Narratives of the extraordinary work of the spirit of God, at Cambuslang, Kilsyth, etc., begun 1742. Written by James Robe and others, with attestations by ministers, preachers etc

I

NARRATIVES

O F T H E

EXTRAORDINART WORK

OF THE

SPIRIT OF GOD,

A T

CAMBUSLANG, KILSTTH, tfc*

BEGUN 1742.
WRITTEN BY

MR. JAMES ROBE, AND OTHERS.

WITH

ATTESTATIONS

BY MINISTERS, PREACHERS, &C,

GLASGOW:

PRINTED ST DAVID N I r E N,
M,D C C, X C,

37 B5

EXTRACT

O F A

LETTER

FROM A GENTLEMAN IN EDINBURGH,
To MR. ROBE IN KILSYTH;

«

Covering the following Preface to the Cambujlang Nar
rative; lately tranjlated into Dutch, and printed iri
Holland.

October id, *742.
My Dear Friend,

T Had yefterday, a Letter from Mr. Kennedy at
•*• Rotterdam, of the 4th paft, old (tile, who writes
me, he got by accident a Narrative of the work at
Cambuflang with the Atteftation; which is printed
in Dutch, and the enclofcd is a copy of the Preface
he wrote to it, and which was alfo printed in Dutch;
I am perfuaded it will be agreeable to you and your
brethren, to know that we have the united prayers,
on our behalf, of all the Lord's people in the United
Provinces. — I hope you have already had much of
the Lord's countenance in what is paft of the folem-
nity with you, and he will eminently own his own
work and ordinance to morrow and next day, to the
bringing iri many finners, and building up many of
his own children; may the ftately fteps of our King,
our God, be feen in his fan£tuary with you. I wili
be glad to hear that he has eminently vifited you at:
this time, and that the work is going on and increaf~
ing in many other places, &c.
A 2

L ir 3

TO THE

CHRISTIAN READER.

HUGH KENNEDY, MINISTER OF THE SCOTS
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN ROTTERDAM,
WISHING GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE.

r| THE converfion of cleft Tinners to God, is one of
•*• the mod glorious and admirable effects of fove-
reign omnipotent wifdom, power and grace, and
affords matter of folemn joy to all the faints; for
every one thus added to the church of Chrift, brings
fo much more of his prefence and Spirit into the
affembly where he worfhips; and adds the more
ftrength and beauty to the Redeemer's intereft in
the world; he adds alfo to the joy of heaven, the
good angels rejoice exceedingly to hear of one {inner,
much more of a multitude of finners, refcued from
the cruel tyranny of Satan, and brought into the
kingdom of God, who mall be fliarers and compa
nions with them in the eternal blefs and glory, and
gladly become miniftring fpirits for the good of thofe
heirs of falvation; and fuch converts will, in a very
particular manner, be a crown and a joy to all fuch
who are any way concerned in bringing them to
God! And can there be a more ravifhing fight on
this fide of heaven, than to behold periming finners
on their return to God under the fvveet but almighty
conquering power of the grace of Jefus Chrift.

Thefe confederations, moved me with the mod
fenfible joy, when I read this Narrative of a moft
gracious, and wonderful pouiing down of the Spirit,

To THE CHRISTIAN READER. v

upon many perfons at Cambuflang, a place within
four miles of Gkfgow; it is as life from the dead,
after a long time of barrennefs and formality; and
though a conftant lively courfe of religion may in
itfelf be more valuable, yet the fudden converfion of
many carelefs finners, from the way of fin and wrath,
muft yield a more furprifing pleafure, and none but
men very much ftrangers to a heavenly fpirit, or
under the influence of fearful prejudices, will do any
thing to reproach fuch a work, to hinder it, or be
exafperated and grieved at it.

I am confident this Narrative will afford a very
high pleafure and fatisf a£tion, to all in the United
Provinces, who love our Lord Jefus in iincerity, and
long for his coming and kingdom. They will be
glad to hear of the converfion of poor finners, be-
caufe it accomplifhes God's great defign of grace and
love, and is the bringing of thofe to Chrift, whom
the Father has given him from eternity, and in whom
he will be for ever glorified: in this confidence I
have cheerfully promoted the tranflation of this Nar
rative, into the Dutch tongue, that fo I might fome
way contribute to help the joy of thofe, whofe hap-
pinefs in time and eternity, I moft fincerely pray
for.

I know the minifters, who have attefled this Nar
rative, to be men of fuch excellent knowledge, in
the truths and ways of God, fuch folid piety, and of
fuch fidelity and integrity, that their teftimony in
this matter is worthy of all credit, and may fafely be
depended on, while others are fpeaking and publifh-
ing their fentiments concerning this work with all
freedom, thefe faithful minifters of Jefus Chrift judge
themfelves obliged to do fo alfo.

They had more opportunity than any others, to

inform themfelves concerning the ways of the Lord

with thefe people, and their manner of life, purpofe,

faith, charity; and what they have feen and heard

A 3

vi To THE CHRISTIAN READER.

that declare they unto us; and I for my part do
cheerfully receive their teftimony, becaufe I know
them to be men of good fenfe, and learning, and of
ftrift veracity, and alfo free from Enthufiaftic im-
preflions, unlefs ferious religion and experimental
piety be fo called, as, alas, we have melancholy oo
cafion to obferve they often are!

There appear plain marks of fincerity and impar
tiality in the following account-, and the fame things
have been written to me by other friends of unquef-
tionable capacity and integrity, whom I know and
correfpond with, and who have diligently vifited that
people, among whom the Redeemer is now riding
forth in the chariot of the everlafting gofpel, conquer
ing and to conquer. And this blefled work is, fince
the publication of this Narrative, fpreading and go
ing forward in feveral other places, particularly Kil-
fyth, a parim about fix miles to the North of Glaf-
gow, there are above an hundred carelefs fmners,
lately awakened to a deep concern about their fouls
and eternity, and appear to be in a hopeful way.

I am perfuaded, that all who really make God's
pure and perfect word the only rule of their re
ligion; who believe the great and univerfal guilt,
corruption, and impotency of the human nature in
its fallen ftate, and the abfolute neceffity of the Spi-
•ritof God, to convince men effectually of fin and
righteoufaefs, and judgment to come; to enlighten
the blind mind, to awaken the fecure fleepy con-
fcience, to bow the flubborn will, and open the hard
natural heart to receive Jefus Chrift; I fay, all who
believe thefe things, will own the work of God men
tioned in this Narrative, to be highly confident with
the fcripture account of converfion, and with all jufl
obfervation of the doings of the Lord in the churches,
when he is about to carry on falvation-work with
sny remarkable fuccefs; and I am very fure, the
common fenfe and reafon of mankind cannot (how

To THE CHRISTIAN READER, vii

the contrary, but that the fame almighty power,
which firff breathed a living foul into man, can by
a further infpiration and influence, coming along
with the pure and faithful difpenfation of the gofpel,
raife men to a higher and nobler condition, than that
in which they find themfelves by nature.

The wifeft of the Heathen philofophers were fo
far fenfible of the horrible depravity of human na
ture, in its prefent ftate, that to the reforming of
the heart and lives of men, they were perfuaded,
there was need of a fupernatural and divine afliftance,
or of the immediate interpofition of God himfelf;
but the doctrines concerning the univerfal corruption
of the human nature, fince the fall of man, and of
the abfolute impotency, nay, enmity of corrupted
nature, to any thing fpiritually good, and confequently
of the abfolute, indifpenfible neceflity of the Spirit
and grace of God; to begin, to carry on, and to
perfect, the whole work of a poor (inner's converfion,
fanctification and falvation, are principles moil clearly
revealed, and ftrongly eftablimed by the word of
God, juftified by the experience of all the faints, and
allowed in fpeculation by all who call themfelves
reformed chriftians.

I confefs, the Holy Spirit has been in a great and
lamentable meafure fo long departed from the churches
called chriftian, that many who wear that name, are
tempted to think, that all his affecting mighty ope
rations upon the fouls of men by the preaching of
the gofpel, belonged only to the firft ages of chrifti
anity, and to the extraordinary miniftrations of the
apoftles; and that now, no more is neceffary to make
men good chriftians, but a mere rational conviction,
of the deformity of vice, and of the beauty and ex
cellency of virtue, nor any other chriftianity necef
fary, but an external profeffion of the name of Chrift,
with a general aflent to the truths of chriftianity,
and a life unblameable in the eye of human lawst
A 4

via To THE CHRISTIAN READER.

though, at the fame time, the (inner be an abfolute
ftranger to the faith of God's cleft, and to the in-
dwelling of the Spirit of Chrift, having made no
particular application of Jefus Chrift to himfelf, nor
being brought to reft upon him alone for the whole
of his falvation from firft to laft; and yet it is as
certain as God's word is true, that unlefs the honeft-
eft and beft moralift in the world be born again of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God;
and if any man, be he otherwife what he will, have
not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his!

Great, and alas! too fuccefsful endeavours have
been ufed, to bring men to reft upon a miniftry and
ordinances without the Spirit; the eternal Spirit has
been dreadfully flighted, his gifts, his grace, and pe
culiar operations upon thcfou/s of men in their con-
yerfion, fanftification, confolation, and eftablifhment
in the ways of God, fcoffed at, reproached, and con
tempt thrown on thofe who were moil earneft in
recommending thefe things, and yet, perhaps, fuch
men would think themfelves wronged, not to be
accounted chriftians.

How irrational and inconfiftent is the judgment of
the men of the world, who know not the things of
the Spirit of God! One man who has a mere form
of godlinefs, but fhews no relifh nor power of it,
but only fome times attends ordinances, being in-
ftrucled out of the law, and feems to live a chafte,
hcneft, and fober life, and the world allows he does
fo, by the grace of God; another who was regardlefs
of all religion, a Sabbath-breaker, a drunkard, an
unclean finner, a profane fwearer, a defpifer of Jefus
Chrift and the great falvation, but by a day of power
as put into a deep concern about his foul, and ear-
deftly cries, What /hall I do to be faved, and becomes,
juft, fober, chafte, holy, lively, and zealous for the
divine glory, and yet men fay, it is a deltifion, all
What abfurd reafgning is this! What

To THE CHRISTIAN READER. ix

high and aggravated provocation to the Spirit of all
grace, whether men will hear, or whether they will
forbear, it will one day be found an awful truth,
that publicans and harlots, (hall enter into the king
dom of heaven, when the profeffed children of the
kingdom, who difcover fuch bitter enmity at the
gracious operations of the Spirit of the Lord, mall
be thruft down to utter darknefs unlefs they repent:
the Lord feems to have fome great event upon the
wheel juft now; and I would fain hope, the glory of
the latter days is not far off. The prefent convul-
fiona and reelings among the nations, as well as the
ftirring among the dry bones in Scotland, America,
and other places, confirm me more and more in this
opinion. God has given the New Teftament church
a great promife, concerning the fignal effufion of the
Holy Spirit, the accomplifhment of which, is in
every age to be expecled by faith, John xiv. 16, 17.
John xvi. 7, 8, 9, 10. Hence the Holy Ghoft is
called the Spirit of that promife, Eph. i. 13. the
Spirit that in the new covenant is promifed, and be
lievers in all generations receive the promife of the
Spirit through faith, Gal. iii. 2, 14. The refidue of
the Spirit is with our God, who, in a way of fove-
rcignty, pours out the Holy Spirit, when, where,
upon whomfoever, and in whatever meafure and
degrees he pleafes! but yet will for this, be inquired
of, by the houfe of Ifrael to do it for them, Ezek.
xxxvi. 27, 37.

Therefore I earneftly befpeak the prayers of all the
faithful in Chrift Jefus, into whofe hands this Nar
rative may come, for the fuccefsful carrying on of
the Lord's work in Scotland, that great and god-like
work of quickening the dead, juftifying the guilty,
and fanclifying the impure, which 1 hope is begun
and going on! and alfo for a notable reviving to the
Lord's work in thefe United Provinces, that the
cloud which at prefent is but like a man's hand, may

x To THE CHRISTIAN READER.

grow great and cover the whole face of the heavens,
that the blefled gofpel may yet be preached among
us, as with the Spirit lent down from above, that
minifters may be made divinely wife to win fouls to
Chrift, and be fent forth in all corners and churches
of this land, with as full a blefling of the gofpel of
Chrift as any other places have experienced, and
much more abundantly by the will and grace of the
Lord! And finally, pray, That the Lord may heal
all our fad breaches and backflidings, allow us his
fpecial prefence; and leave fome notable blefling in
the midft of us, and that his almighty watchful pro
vidence, may be a wall of fire about thefe Provinces,
and all their valuable interefts, and his gofpel difpenfed
in the power and demonftration of the Holy Spirit,
may be the glory in the midft of them, till time mall
be no more. This is, and through grace, {hall be
the fervent prayer of,

Your very affectionate

Friend and Servant
ROTTERDAM,!
July 26th, 1742. 5

in the Lordy

HUGH KENNEDT.

PROPOSAL

SUBMITTED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF GOD*S
PEOPLE OF EVERY DENOMINATION.

nnH AT they agree to meet at the throne of grace,
every Sabbath morning, in their clofets, fome
time between the hours of feven and nine o'clock,
to unite in prayer for the moft important and the
mod neceflary of all blefiings.

Firft) The out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon
the churches of Chriit.

Second^ For the fpread of the gofpel in its purity
and power throughout the world.

Let thefe be the principal fubjects of this focial
and devout Concert for Prayer, with which others
may be mixed, as conveniency may fuggeft. It will
efpecially be eafy to perceive the importance of im
portunity on fuch occafions, for the intereft of Chrift,
in that particular place where providence has caft
our lot, #nd which is hereby earneftly recommended.
—And, for this purpofe, that God's people be much
in prayer for the minifters of Chrift. in general, and
for their own minifter or minifters in particular, that
they may be affifted and fucceeded in the difcharge
of their high truft. — Much need not be faid to engage
thofe whofe hearts are right with God, to join in this
Concert for Prayer — They will eafily recollect, that
God uniformly reprefents himfelf, in fcripture, as
a God that hears prayer ; and that, while he promifes
the feveral blefiings of the covenant of grace, with
bleflings of a temporal nature, Eztk. xxxvi. 25. he
liotwithftanding adds, verfe 37. Thus faith the Lord

C "i ]

God, / will yet for this be inquired of by the houfe of
Ifrael) to do it for them.

It is in anfwer of prayer, God ufually imparts any
fpecial blefling to his people. — Thus prayer becomes
both our duty and our privilege — The chriftian's own
comfort and progrefs in holinefs — The converfion of
fhmers; and the encouragement and ufefulnefs of
the minifters of Chrift, are all powerful inducements
to a compliance with this Propofal, and, as fuch, are
fuggefted and urged.

The univerfal fpread of the gofpel of Chrift in due
time, which is the fecond thing mentioned in the
propofed Concert, is matter of exprefs and frequent
promife in the facred oracles; and therefore a proper
fubjecl of prayer for the people of God, in every age,
efpecially extraordinary prayer.

The Concert for Prayer, that is hereby recom
mended, is not a new thing; it has been the practice
of pious people in different times and parts of the
church, and which God has been pleafed to approve
by fpecial tokens of his favour.

Who then will join in this duty, fo peculiarly
neceflary in our day?

NEW-YORK, May 12, 1786.

Reprinted at GLASGOW, March 23, 1787.

A SHORT

NARRATIVE

O F T H E

EXTRAORDINARY WORK

O F T H K

SPIRIT OF GOD,

A T

CAMBUSLANG;

I N A

LETTER TO A FRIEND.

WITH

ATTESTATIONS

«
BY MINISTERS, PREACHERS, &C.

GLASGOW:

PRINTED IN THE YEAR

M, D C C, 2 C.

ATTESTATION,

TO THE FACTS IN THE FOLLOWING- NARRA
TIVE, BY MR. MCCULLOCH, MINISTER AT
CAMBUSLANG.

May 8/£, 1742.

IHave perufcd the following fhort Narrative, and
can atteft the facts contained in it; partly from
perfonal knowledge, partly from the moft credible
informations: but think it a lofs, that it is not more
full. I have feen a larger Paper compiled by differ
ent hands; which, betides the fac~b related in this,
contains feveral ufeful reafonings, tending to prove,
That the favourable judgment formed by many, and
even by /brne, who through want of due information,
hefitated at firft, about this work, is fupported by all
that kind of evidence, that things of this nature are
capable of, in fuch a fpace of time. And confe-
quently, that there is good ground to hope, that by
the divine blefiing, the confirmation arifing from per-
feverance, will be daily increafing, as hitherto it has
been.

The faid large Paper, contained alfo a vindication
of this work, from various objections; and falfe and
injurious afperfions thrown on it in print, by fome
who have not yet appeared to own their accufations;
which in juftice they ought to do, or retract them.
But though it has not been thought expedient, to
publiih that larger Account at prefent, I underftand
the Compilers of it, can eafily prepare it for the prefs,
if it (hall be thought needful afterwards.

C ™ 3

For my own part, I defire to join in hearty prayers
with the people of God, that he may revive his work
in the midft of the years, in this and all the churches,
and make */ to triumph over all cppcftthn; and con
clude with the words of the prophet, Zech iv. 6, 7.
Not by mighty nor by power , but by my Spirit, faith the
Lord. W~ho art thou, O great mountain ? before Z.e-
rubbable [the Lord Jefus Chrift] thou JJjalt become ft
plain, and heJJjall bring forth the head-Jlone thereof nuith
crying, Grace, grace unto it.

WILLIAM MCCULLOCH,

A

NARRATIVE

OF THE

EXTRAORDINARY WORK

A T

CAMBUSLANG;

In a LETTER to a FRIEND.

f
SIR,

AS the report of the good work at Cambuilang,
which has for feveral weeks engaged the at
tention of numbers in this city, and country in the
neighbourhood, is now fpread over a great part of
the nation; it is no wonder, that one who lives at
the diftance you do, fhould be curious to have a true
relation of it: and as I would be glad of any oppor
tunity to ferve you, it is very agreeabk to me, to
think I can gratify you in this matter; efpecially in
what concerns the people in that parifh, and fome
other parifhes near it, having had opportunity t6
converfe fully with the miniiler of Cambuflang, and
with many of the people there, who are under this
fpiritual exercife, and alfo with fome other mini-
ilers, who have feverals in their parifhes, that appear
to be under the fame happy impreflions.

There is one thing in the entry I muft apprize you
of, viz. That I am to confine myfelf, to a fimple nar
ration of fa£b; as the evidences on which the op i-

2 CAMBUSLANG

nion of many concerning the prefent happy change
that is wrought on that people, is founded: witnout
entering into any reafoning, but leaving it to your-
felf to draw proper conclufions from the facts, after
comparing them with fcripture rules and inftances.

I mud alfo acquaint you, as it was natural to ex
pect, when, on a fingular occafion of this fort, great
numbers of people from adjacent towns and coun
try, came flocking to a place that became fo remark
able; that in fuch a promiicuous multitude fome
counterfeits would readily happen; it was the early
care of minifters who interefted themfelves moft in
that matter, to enter into a ilrict examination of
thofe who appeared to be under a more than ordi
nary concern, fo as to obtain fatisfaction to them
felves, whether the work was folid, being juftly ap-
prehenfive, That the powers of darknefs would not
fail to employ their devices, to bring contempt on
what might tend fo much to the honour of the
gofpel

In thofe watchful endeavours it muft be owned,
that fome impoftors were found to have mixed with
the fincere; but there is reafon to blefs God, that,
fo far as yet appears, they have been very few; and
as thefe have been feverely rebuked, fo the rnotl aw
ful warnings have been given, againft all fuch infm-
cere pretenfions, which warnings, there is ground
to believe, have had very good effects.

Now, Sir, to give the (hort hiftory of this matter.

The minifter of that parifh, in his ordinary courfe
of fermons, for near a twelvemonth before this work
began, had been preaching on thefe fubjects which
tend moft directly to explain the nature, and prove
the neceffity of regeneration, according to the dif
ferent lights in which that important matter is re-
prefented in holy fcripture: and for fome months
before the late remarkable events, a more than or
dinary concern about religion appeared among that

NARRATIVE. 3

people; one good evidence of which was, that about
the end of January laft, a petition was given in to
the minifter, fubfcribed by about ninety heads of
families, defiling a weekly lecture fhould be fet up;
which was readily granted, and the day fixed on
Thurfday, as the mod convenient for the temporal
interefts of the parifh.

On Monday the i5th of February there was a ge
neral meeting, at the minifter's houfe, of the parti
cular focieties for prayer, which had fubfifted in the
parifli for feveral years before: on Tuefday there was
another meeting for prayer there, the occafion of
which was a concert with feveral ferious chriftians
elfewhere, about folemn prayer, relating to the public
interefts of the gofpel-, in which concert only a fmali
number of people in Cambuflang were engaged at
firft, but others getting notice of it defired to join,
and were admitted: the people who met for prayer
thefe two days, apprehended that they had been ib
well employed, and found fo much leifure for it, that
they had a third meeting on Wednefday: but on all:
thefe three days they returned timeoufly in the eve
ning to their own houfes, fo far is it from being true
that they ruftied from fome of thefe meetings to the
church and continued immured there for feme days
and nights, as was reported.

Before Thurfday, February 1 8th, they had week
days fermons only on Thurfdays according to the
above-mentioned defire of the pariih: and before
that day, though feveral particular perfons came to
the minifter, from time to time, under deep concern
about their falvation, yet there came no great num
bers together.

But on that day after fermon a confiderable num
ber of people, reckoned by fome prefent about fifty,
came together to the minifter's houfe, under con
victions and alarming apprehenfions about the ftate
of their fouls, and defiring to fpeak with him.
B a

4 CAMBUSLANG

From this unexpected number, coming in an eve
ning, in fo great diftrefs, and the neceflity of the
niinifter's exhorting them in general, and conveifmg
with many of them feparately, you will eafiiy per
ceive that he behoved to fpend that night with them,
as he did mod part of two or three more fince this
work began, which is now about twelve weeks.

After this, numbers daily reforted to that place,
forne to hear the word, fome to converfe with peo
ple who were under this remarkable concern, and
others with different views: and the defires and ex
igencies of thofe were fuch that the miriifter found
himfelf obliged, without any previous intimation, to
provide them daily fermon, a few days excepted,
arid after fermon ufually to fpend fome time with
them in exhortations, prayers and finging of pfalms,
being efpecially encouraged thereto by the extraor
dinary fuccefs with which God was pleafed, from
time to time, to blefs his own ordinances, in fo much
that, by the beft information that could be had, the
number of perfons awakened to a deep concern
about falvation, and againft whom there are no
known exceptions as yet, has amounted to above
three hundred. And, through divine mercy, the
work feems to be (till making confiderable progrefs
every week, and more for fome weeks of late than
fometimes formerly.

Of the number juft now mentioned the far greater
part have given already, both to minifters and other
ferious chriftians, a good account of what they have
felt in their convictions and humiliation for fin, of
the way of their relief by faith in the mercy of God
through Jefus Chrift, and of the change they feel in
the prevalent inclinations and difpofitions of their
hearts.

As to their devotion and other parts of their prac
tice, which is that which chiefly attracts the atten
tion and regard of this country j there are comfort-

NARRATIVE. 5

able accounts given of it, by thofe who have the beft
and mod frequent opportunities of knowing their
daily behaviour.

The pariih of Cambuflang being of fo fmall ex
tent, that moft of the people live within a mile of
the church, and fome who have the beft intelligence,
being almoft every day with the minifter, he and
they have abundant opportunities to know the prac
tices of fuch of the people I am fpeaking of, as live
within their bounds, and the account they give of it
is, That they appear to be in a very hopeful way;
and the like good accounts are given by ieveral mi-
nifters and others, of fuch of thofe people as belong
to the neighbouring parifhes.

Among the particular good fruits, already appear
ing, both in Cambuflang and elfewhere, the follow
ing inftances feem very encouraging: a vifible re
formation of the lives of perfons who were formerly
notorious finners; particularly, the laying afide of
curfing and fwearing, and drinking to excefs, among
thefe who were addicted to that practice: remorfe
for acts of injuftice, and for violation of relative du
ties confeiTed to the perfons wronged, joined with
new endeavours after a conscientious difcharge of
fuch duties : reftitution which has more than once
been diftinctly and particularly inculcated in public,
fince this work began; forgiving of injuries; all de-
firable evidences of fervent love to one another, to all
men, arid even to thofe who fpeak evil of them ; and
among thofe people both in Cambuflang and other
parifhes, more affectionate expreffions of regard than
ever to their own miriiflers, and to the ordinances
difpenfed by them; the keeping up divine worfhip
in families, where it was neglected very often by
fome and entirely by others; the erecting of new fo-
cieties for prayer, both of old and young, partly with
in the parifli, where no lefs than twelve fuch focie-
ties are newly begun, and partly elfewhere, among
B 3

6 CAMBUSLANG

perfons who have been awakened on this occafion:
and, together with all thefe things, ardent love to
the holy fcriptures, vehement thirfting after the
public ordinances, earneil defires to get private in-
flructions in their duty from minifters and others,
with commendable docility and traftablenefs in re
ceiving fuch inftruclions.

This third after knowledge is particularly remark
able in thofe who were more ignorant; feverals who
cannot read, and fome of them old perfons, being fo
defirous to be better acquainted with the word of
God that they are refolved to learn to read, and
fome of the younger fort actually putting themfelves
to fchool.

1 would farther add, that thefe good impreffions
have been made on perfons of very different charac
ters and ages; on fome of the moft abandoned as
well as the more fober: on young as well as old; on
the illiterate as well as the more knowing; on per
fons of a flower as well as thofe of a quicker and
more fprightly genius; and, which feems to deferve
fpecial attention, on perfons who were addicted to
fcoffing at facred things, and at this work in particu
lar at the beginning of it.

The fum of the facls, I have reprefented to you
is, That this work has been begun, and carried on
under the influence of the great and fubftantial doc
trines of chriflianity, prefling jointly, the necejjity of
repentance towards God, of faith in the Lord Jefus
Chrift) and of hclinefs in all manner of confer fation;
that it came after fuch preparatives as an extenfive
concern about religion gradually increafing; together
with extraordinary fervent prayer in large meetings,
particularly relating to the fuccefs of the gofpel;
that great and fuccefsful pains have been taken, to
difcover and difcountenance hypocritical pretences,
and to warn people againft what might have the
leafl appearance of enthufiafm, or delufion: that the

NARRATIVE. 7

account given by a very large number of people of
their inward exercifes, and attainments, feems to
agree with the fcripture (tandard; and are bringing
forth in practice, fruits meet for repentance •; compre
hending the feveral branches of piety, and of the
moft fubflamial morality, that can entitle men, to
the regard of fritnds of religion and virtue.

And now, Sir, I have given you a plain, and fim-
ple account of the moft material fa£ts, relating to
this extraordinary work at Cambuflang, and thefe
awakened there belonging to other parishes; together
with the proper documents by which thefe fa£ts are
fupported; in all which I have avoided difputing,
and ftudied brevity.

I leave it to you to judge, how far fuch fa£ls make
it evident, that this work is from God; when (to
ufe the words of a pious divine treating of a fubjecl:
of the fame nature) * * He that was formerly a
' drunkard lives a fober life, when a vain, light and

* wanton perfon becomes grave and fedate, when the
' blafphemer becomes a praifer of God, when carnal

* joy is turned into heavinefs, and that profefledly
' on account of their foul's condition; when the ig-

* norant are filled with knowledge of divine things,

* and the tongue that was dumb in the things of
' God fpeaks the language of Canaan,' — when fecure
finners — « Have been roufed with a witnefs about
' the ftate of their fouls, Luke xi. 21, 22. thefe who

* were ignorant can fpeak fkilfully about religious

* things, and even the gracelefs are increafed in
1 knowledge, — Swearers drop their oaths and fpeak

* reverently of God: vain perfons who minded no

* religion, but frequented taverns and frolics, nafling
4 their time in filthinefs, foolifh talking and jetting,
' or (inging paltry fongs, do now frequent chriftian

* focieties (for prayer): feek chriilian converfation

* See Mr. Finlay'a Sermon, intitled Chrift Triumphing, &c.

B 4

8 C A M B U S L A N G, &V.

and talk of foul-concerns, and chufe to exprefs
their mirth in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual
fongs: they who were too fprightly to be devout,
and efteemed it an unmanly thing to fhed tears for
their foul's ftate, have mourned as for an only fon,
and feemed to be in bitternefs as for a firft-born,
Zech. xii. 10. — And perfons who came to mock at
the lamentations of others, have been convinced,
and by free grace profelyted to fuch ways as they
formerly defpifed.' 1 am,

May %thy 1742.

It may be of ufe to readers, who live at a diftance,
in perufing the following Atteftations, to know, as
to the fituation of Cambuflang, that it lies about four
miles from Glafgow; the feveral parifhes, whofe
minifters, heritors and elders, fign moft of the At
teftations, lie very near it, viz. the parifhes of Kil-
bryde, Bothwell, Old Monkland, and Barony, that
Mr. Matthew Connell and Mr. William Hamilton
live but about three miles from Cambuflang, and are
the eldeft minifters of the prefbytery of Hamilton,
in whofe bounds that parim lies. That the two
preachers who fign a joint Atteftation, and are
young men of known probity, have frequently aflift-
ed Mr. M'Culloch of late; that Mr. Duncan refides
in the parim, and Mr. Young has refided a confider-
able time in the Gorbals near Glafgow, where many
of the awakened people dwell: alfo that Mr. Willi-
fon and Mr. M'Kneight who live at a good diftance
from Cambuflang, fpent fome time there, inquiring
into this work as their Atteftations bear.

C 9 1
ATTESTATIONS

TO THE FACTS IN THE NARRATIVE,
RELATING TO THE FRUITS OF THIS
WORK.

ATTESTATION I.

By Mr. Willifon, one of the Minifters of Dundee.

Glafgotu, J 5 th Aprily 1742.
Reverend and dear Brother ,

OEEING fome are defirous to have my thoughts
-* of the work at Cambuflang, I am willing to own,
that I have travelled a good way to enquire and get
fatisfa£tion about it. And having redded feveral
days in Mr. M'Culloch's houfe, I had occafion to
converfe with many who had been awakened and
under convictions there ; I found feverals in clarknefs
and great diftrefs about their foul's condition, and
with many tears bewailing their fins and original
corruption, and efpecially the fin of unbelief, and
flighting of precious Chrift, and fome who had been
in this cafe for thefe feveral weeks paft; yet I faw
nothing in any tending to defpair, but on the con
trary their exercife pointed ftill at the great remedy,
for oft they would be breaking out in hopeful expref-
ftons, fuch as, though he fay tne, I will trufl in him*

i« ATTESTATIONS.

Others I found in a moft defirable frame, over
come with a fenfe of the wonderful love, and love-
linefs of Jefus Chrift, even fu~k of love, and inviting
all about them to help them to praife him.

I fpoke alfo with many who had got relief from
their foul-trouble, and in whom the gracious work
of the Spirit of God appeared in the fruits and effects
of it, according to^my appreheniion; fuch as their
ingenuous con f effing of their former evil ways, and
profefling a hatred of fin; very low and abafing
thoughts of themfelves; renouncing the vanities of
the world, and all their own doings and righteouf-
nefs, and relying wholly upon Chriit for right eoufnefs
and Jlrength; and exprefling great love to Chrift, to
the Bible, to fecret prayer, to the people of God,
and to his image in whomfoever it was, without
refpecl: of perfons, or parties; and alfo love to their
enemies; and when they heard of fome who called
the work at Cambuflang a delufion of the devil, they
(hewed no refentment againfl them, but wilhed their
eyes might be opened, and earnestly wifhed they
could bring all their enemies, and all the world to
their dear Redeemer.

I converfed with fome who had been very wicked,
and fcandalous; but now wonderfully changed:
though fome were very rude and boifterous before,
they now had the mildnefs, and meeknefs of the
lamb about them. When they fpoke of their for
mer ways they bluflied, and wept, and faid, None
in all the country round were fo vile as they, and
earneflly defired to exalt free grace: and ,\vhen I was
cautioning them againft new temptations and re-
lapfes, they (hewed a fenfe of their own v/eaknefs,
and were afraid on that account to come near their old
companions, though they would fain have had them
alfo brought to Chrift: they faid, They would wifh
rather to die than to go back to old fins, and if ever
they fhould be left to any of them, they would incline

ATTESTATIONS. H

to leave the country, becaufe of the dishonour it
would bring on the work of God, which they could
not bear to fee.

Though I converfed with a great number both
men and women, old and young, I could obferve
nothing vifionary or eruhufiaftick about them-, for
their diicourfes were folid, and experiences fcrip-
tural; and all the comfort and relief they got from
trouble, ftill came to them, by fome promife or word
of fcripture cafl into their minds, and it was pleafant
to hear them mention the great variety of thefe words
up and down the Bible. And fome who -could riot
read, told their words of confolation, not knowing
well if they were in the Bible or not, and when upon
alking if they were Bible words or not, they greatly
rejoiced to find they were.

I had heard much of this furprifing work by letters,
and from eye-witnefles before I came, but all that
made flight impreffions on me, when compared with
what I was eye, and ear-witnefs to myfelf.

Upon the whole I look on the work at Cambuflang,
to be a moft fingular, and marvellous outpouring of
the Holy Spirit, which Chrift hath promifed; and I
pray it may be a happy forerunner of a general re
viving of the work of God in this poor decayed
church, and a blefled mean of union among all the
lovers of our dear Jefus.

I am forry I cannot flay to affift you further in
this good work; my bufmefs, and circumflances
oblige me, to return homewards. May the Lord him-
felf ftrengthen and encourage you in his work, and
gracioufly carry on what he has begun, and take t*>
him his great power, that he may reign glorioujly
through all the land. I remain with all fmcerity,
Reverend and dear Brother ',

Tour mojl affi-Elionate Brother »
and Servant in the Lord,

JOHN WILL1SON.

« ATTESTATIONS.

ATTESTATION II.

By Mr. Connell, Minifter in Kilbrydc.

Rev. and dear Brother^

TVylANY have afked my opinion of the work at
•*-*-*• Cambuflang, which I freely gave (as now I
write to you) that I looked upon it as a work of God's
Spirit: when I compared the exercife of feveral per-
fons that had been there, with the fcripture accounts
of conviction and converfion, I have been under a
neceflity to conclude that it is neither delufion nor
impofture, as has been given out by thofe who are
unacquainted with the dealings of God of that .kind,
or under the influence of party zeal.

Some I have feen crying out of the evil of fin and
of their danger by it, fadly bewailing their guilt and
mifery, expreffing a moft earned defire of an in-
tereil in Chrift, which they faid, They would value
more than all the world, but bitterly complaining of
want of love to him, want of faith in him, and un-
clutiful carriage towards him through their paft life;
and if now it might be their attainment, for former
coldnefs and deadnefs to have love to Chrift; for
unbelief, faith in him; and for an undutiful behaviour
towards him, a fincere and hearty embracing of him
in the go.fpel offer; and living the reft of their time
to the praife and glory of his name: this they would
account their greateft happinefs, and the remedy of
all the evils in their cafe; and, for this effedfc, they
begged the help of prayers.

Others I have feen who lamented their loft time
and opportunities, and the vanity and folly of their
youth, faying, Many good fermons and prayers they
had heard, but all had been loft to them, and had n<t

ATTESTATIONS. 13

good effect upon them, being wholly carried away
with youthful vanities and follies •, but added, now
we are refolvcd in the ftrength of the grace of Chrift
(for, faid they, of ourfelves we can do nothing) to
improve time and opportunities better, to value fer-
mons and prayers, to read the fcriptures, to keep
company with the fearers of God, and to (hun fel-
lowfhip with the wicked as much as poflible, blcfling
God that he had not taken them away, .before they
faw the neceflity of all thefe.

Others I have converfed with, who, like doves of
the valleys, were mourning for their iniquities, prin
cipally becaufe they did ftrike againft God and wound
their Redeemer, ufmg the exprcflions, Pfalm li. 4.
and Zech. xii. 10, But with good hope through the
merits of Chrift and mercy of God in him, that it
would be well with them.

Others I have obferved at one time much dejected
and under a cloud, at another time pofleifecl of a
good meafure of fpiritual joy, as it happens with the
beft of faints.

Others I have heard cry, they had fpent their mo
ney for that which is not bread, and their labour for
that which did not fatisfy, having given their time
and (Irength to the world and the things of it, which
now they refolved againft, there being matters of
greater moment, which they faw and were convinced,
they (hould be mainly taken up about.

And to trouble you with no more, (for I could
write you a volume on this fubje&) a young woman,
who after having given me a diftinft account of her
diftrefs and outgate, faid, I have lived above twenty
years in the world, and all that time the devil had
pofleflion of my heart, and I am fure he is a bad
gueft, but blefled be God, I hope he is now in a great
meafure difpoflcfled, and mall never, through the
ftrength of Chrift, recover that power over me that
formerly he had. Mean time I obferve to you, thi«

U ATTESTATIONS.

perfon had all along been of a blamelefs life, and not
chargeable with any fcandal, -but with tears regreted
her carelefs way of going about fecret duty, reading
the fcriptures and hearing fermons, or neglecting
thefe altogether; but with much humility and leri-
oufnefs, in the ftrength of divine grace, exprefled her
refolution, that (he would do fo no more.

Upon the whole, in moft of all I have feen and
Converfed with, I obferved, and have daily occafion
to obferve, the effects of godly forrow mentioned by
the apoflle, 2 Cor. vii. 1 1.

Praying the pleafure of the Lord may more and
more profper in your hands, and begging the help of
your prayers for me and this people,

I amy

Reverend and dear Brother,
Aprily 1742. 5 Tours mojl affectionately >

MATTHEW CONNELL,

KILBRTDE^
'•3

ATTESTATION III. !

By Mr. John Hamilton, Minifler of the gofpel,
in Barony.

T Underftand it is expe&ed from me, that I mould
•*• declare my fentiments of the extraordinary work
at Cambuflang; as a good many of my parifhioners
have lately been awakened there> to a great concern
about their foul's happinefs.

ATTESTATIONS. 15

As foon as I was informed of their condition, I
made it my bufmefs to wait on them, and found a
good many perfons under the deepeft exercife of foul,
crying out mod bitterly, of their loft and miserable
eftate, by reafon of fin, of their* unbelief, in defpifing
Chrift, and the offers of the gofpel, of the hardnefs of
their heart, and their former grofs careleflhefs, and
inciifferency about religion: and though feme of them
faid, they had regularly attended the preaching of the
gofpel, yet acknowledged with much reg'ret, their
mifimprovement of it; how many fweet fermons they
had hc.ifd without any benefit, and they came to
church with no defign to be inilru£ted, but only, as
they laid, to fee, and be feen.

1 have heard them expvefling a great deal of forrow
for thefe things, and feemingly, in the moft ferious
and finccre manner; and not lo much, as fome of
them have told me, from the fear of punifhment, to
which they had thereby expofed themfelves, as from
a fenfe ot the dilhonour they had done to God, and
the blefled Redeemer; and frequently aggravated
their fin*, from this confideration, that they had been
the betrayers, and murderers of the Lord of glory.

And though 1 have feen fome of them under ex
treme affliction and diftrefs, I could never obferve
the lead diforder in their judgments: but their com
plaints were always fuitable to their condition. Nei
ther have I obferved any of them carried away with
defpairing thoughts of the mercy of God: but all of
them feemed to be feeking relief, in the method the
gofpel propofes; and exprefled the warmeft defires
after an intereft in Chrift, to obtain which they faid
they would cheerfully lay down their lives, and part
with every thing, that ivas dear to them in the world.

I have at feveral different times converfed with
many of thefe perfons, an I have received no fmall
fatisfac~Uon from fuch converfations. When fpeaking
of prayer, they have told me, how much that duty

i6 ATTESTATIONS.

had been negie&ed by them, and in what a cold life-
lefs manner it was performed; from which therefore,
they neither did nor could reap any fatisfa&ion: but
now, faid they, it was an exercife in which they
found much fweetnefs and comfort.

Their love to the holy fcripture, all of then* ex-
prefs in the moft lively and moving manner, fre
quently calling it, a precious and invaluable treafure;
greatly furprifed how they could poffibly flight it fo
much in time pad, and declaring they now faw many
things in it, highly ufeful and comfortable to them 5
which they never before imagined had been there.

They exprefs a great love to, and defire after the
public ordinances; when I have aiked fome of them,
if they had fuch affection as the Pfalmift fpeaks of
in the beginning of the cxxii Pfalm, when it was faid
to him, Let us go up to the houfe of the Lord> they have
told me, that though it was quite otherwife with them
before; yet now they found a vail pleafure in attend
ing the church, and public worfhip of God, and a
great unwillingnefs in them to withdraw from it,
when the fervice was over.

They are likewife exceedingly defirous of more pri
vate inftru&ion in their duty, and take all oppor
tunities of waiting on thofe, that can be of ufe to
them, and fuch of them as are near at hand, do fre
quently come to my houfe, and receive my advice
arid amftance; and I never faw perfons more docile
than they are. I mud own indeed that when I firft
converfed with jthem I found fome of them pretty
ignorant of the principles of religion: but this was
what they feemed deeply grieved and afflicted for;
and much condemned their former iloth and negli
gence, and fince that time, have been making ufe of
the proper means of knowledge, and I think I can
fay, with no contemptible fuccefs, confidering the
ihort time they have had.

ATTESTATIONS. 17

Some of them feem to difcover devout breathings
of foul after God, and the blefied Redeemer, and re-
folutions through grace, to* depend upon him in the
worft of circumftances, often making ufe of thefe
words of Job xiii. 15. Though he Jlay mey yet nvi// I
trufl in him. I have been much furprifed to fee how
readily, nay even judicioufly, fome of them who had
been formerly ignorant and unconverted, have fpoke
of fome of the moft important points of practical re
ligion, and with what facility they have adduced paf-
fages of fcripture, very fuitable to what they were
fpcaking about.

There is another branch of chriftian duty, that I
do think, they are likewife ftudying a conformity to.
And that is love to mankind: 1 have heard them of
ten wifliing, and defiring that all men might be
brought to Chrift, and the knowledge of the truth;
and particularly exprefiing a great regard for all that
are the Lord's people. So far as I have yet accefs to
know them, they feem to be of a meek and quiet
fpirit, and willing to forgive; telling me, they defire
to wifii well, and to pray even for the happinefs of
thofe, who had been injurious to them.

More might be faid upon this fubject, but I choofe
rather to be fparing, till time make * clearer difcovery
of them.

The perfons I have converfed with, were of diffe
rent characters: fome of them had all along been
pretty fober and regular in their lives, and duly
enough attended the ordinances of the gofpel, others
of them were very carelefs this way, and addicted to
many fms: but even tftofe who were more blamelefs in
their lives, have declared, that their hearts till now
were never touched with any thing they heard from
the word of God ; that they had never lived under the
influence of religion, and were grofsly unconcerned
about their falvation.

C

i8 ATTESTATIONS.

Thefe now are the appearances, I obferve among
fome of my people, who were awakened to a concern
about their fouls at Cambuflang; which do ftrongly
incline me to think, that it is the work of God.

GLASGOW, •)
April) 1742. 3

JOHN HAMILTON.

ATTESTATION IV.

By Mr. William Hamilton, Minifter at Bothwell.

Rev. and dear Brother,

T Have feen the atteftation by the reverend Mr.
*•• Matthew Connell in Kilbryde, as alfo that by the
reverend Mr. Jchn Hamilton in Barony of Glafgow.
As 1 have no new thing to add, fo I heartily join in
the fame fentiments with my above-named brethren,
both as to the reality of that extraordinary work at
Cambuflang, being in very deed a gracious work of
th<- Spirit of God, defigned, I firmly believe, for the
faving conviction and converfion of many perifhing
fouls, not only in that parifti, but in the neighbour
hood. May the Lord, in his infinite mercy, (hed
abroad the influences of his faving grace through all
the corners of the land.

Th^re are a good number of my people, moflly
young people, who have been awakened at Cambuf-
lang, and have much the fame account to give of
them with my above-named brethren: all of them are
very fcrious and concerned about their foul's cafe,

ATTESTATIONS. 19

are very felicitous to have others brought to ac
quaintance with Chrift, and the way of falvation
through him: which has had this (Ihope) blefled
effect, that there feems to be a more than ordinary
ferioufnefs, among a goodly number in feveral cor
ners of this congregation, more confcience made o£
family worfliip, in feveral families who made but too
little account of it before ; as likewife there are fome
new focieties for prayer and chriftian conference, fet
up in this congregation, wherein feveral perfons, be-
fides thefe awakened at Cambuflang, have joined. I
hope thefe things through the blefling of God, may
prove the beginning of much good, in this and in
other places. May that blefled God, who has begun
a good work, either with you or any other place,
carry on and perfect the fame until the day of Jefus
Chrift.

May the Lord direct and aflift you, and all his fer-
vants, to a right and faithful management of our great
mafter's work amongft our hands. I add no more,
but am with the greateft fincerity.

Reverend and dear Brother,

Your affectionate Brother^

BQTHWELL^

7th Mayt 1741.3 and bumble Servant in the Lord.

WILLIAM HAMILTON,

ATTESTATIONS.

ATTESTATION V.
By Mr. William Hamilton, Minifter in Douglas.

TT^

Rev. and dear Brother^

Hile I was with you, it gave me great pleafure
to fee fo much concern upon peoples fpirits a-
bout the falvation of their precious and immortal
fouls, a thing very rare amongft us: fome whom I
had occafion to difcourfe with, appeared to be in the
utmoft diilrefs upon account of (in, both original and
a6^;ual, and that principally as it is that abominable
thing which God hates. Others whofe confciences
God had awakened with a fenfe of guilt, but had
now got believing views of Chrift Jefus, as a mod
complete Saviour, both able and willing to fave; and
whom God had determined by the power of his Spi
rit to vield themfelves to the Lord; they in a very
ilrong manner exprefled love to their God and Savi
our, and to all his commands, both of the firft and
fecond table of the law; and declared, that it was
their firm purpofe and refolution, through the af-
fiflance of the Holy Spirit, to walk in all the com
mandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelefs;
and feemed more afraid of offending God, than of
any (offerings they might be expofed to in a world:
and their practices, fo far as I can hear, are as yet a-
greeable to their refolutions; fo that I not only hope,
but think I have good ground to believe, that work
begun and for fome time paft carried on amongft the
people of Cambuflang, and ftrangcrs that have re-
forted thither from many diftant parts, (hall appear
to the conviction of all good men, to be the work of
God, from the after holy life and converfation, of
not a few of thefe, whofe confidences have at this

ATTESTATIONS. 21

time been awakened to a fenfe of their loft and un
done ftate by nature. That the Lord may more and
more afiift, ftrengthen, and fupport you, and give
you, and all faithful minifters of the gofpel, many
leals of their miniftry, is the hearty prayer of,

Dear Brother y

Tour ajft'ffionate Brother^
May 6th, 1742.

WILLIAM HAMILTON.

ATTESTATION VI.
By Mr. M'Kneight, Minifter at Irvine.

Re v. and dear Brother %

A S I had by information from letters, conceived
r^--a good opinion of the extraordinary and fur-
prifing work at Cambuflang before I went thither,
upon an invitation from you, to preach there laft
Sabbath; fo my faid opinion has been very much
confirmed by what I was eye and ear-witnefs to, du
ring my abode with you, from Saturday to Tuefday
Jaft; being ftill more and more perfwaded, that it is
the real work of the Spirit of God.

While I joined with your congregation in public
worfliip, I obferved amongft the vafl numbers that
flocked to hear the gofpel preached at Cambuflang,
not only the ferious looks, the grave deportment,
and the clofe attention of the multitudes to what was
fpoken, but alfo the weeping eyes of many, that ap
peared to be in the greateft diftrefs and trouble.

22 ATTESTATIONS.

Again, in the evenings, after public worfiiip was
ended, and when I had occafion to converfe with
feveral of thefe affli&ed perfons, I found their wounds
and anguim of foul, together with their tears, did
proceed not from a whimfical and enthufiaftic ima
gination, but from a deep conviction of the great
evil and demerit of fin original and actual, particu
larly of their fin of unbelief, and flighting precious
Chrift, and the gracious offers of falvation by him;
and when I exhorted and directed them to believe
in the Lord Jefus Chrift, as the apoftle Paul did the
convinced and trembling jaylor, Acts xvi. 31. They
anfwered, Lord help me to believe , gladly would I be
lieve, but I cannot. However while under their foul
exercifes for fin, and becaufe of God's wrath, I heard
them exprefling ardent defires after Chrift, and an
intereft in him, and falvation by him; and a great
thirft after the word, the knowledge of God and of
divine things, and after a faving faith in a crucified
Jefus, which gave me ground to hope that our dear
Redeemer Jefus, would foon accomplifh thefe long
ing defires in relieving them from their diftrefles of
both body and mind.

Likewife, I converfed with others, who were under

piercing and deep convictions for fin; and have felt

the /harp arrows of the Almighty Jlicking fafl in their

fouls, and to whom the Spirit of God, had, upon their

believing in Jefus Chrift, applied his precious blood

to heal thefe wounds, and hereon hath granted them

relief and comfort, hath delivered thtir fouls from

death, their eyes from tears, and their feet from falling ;

for which diftinguifhing mercies, they were exalting

free grace, faying with the apoftle Paul, // is by grace

ive are ivhat ive are, and blejjed be the God and Father

of our. Lord Jefus Chrift, ivho hath blejfed us with all

fpiritual bleffings in heavenly places in Chrift.

They, when I converfed with them, declared dif-
tinc~Uy the way and manner, how their convictions

ATTESTATIONS. 23

began and wrought, and how the relief they got from
foul-troubles came to them. They alfo discovered
the gracious work of the Spirit of God upon their
fouls, in their confeifion of fin with ihame, forrow,
and bluming; in their profefling a hatred of it, and
loathing themfelves on the account thereof, crying
out, Behold, •we are vite, •we abhor ourfeives, and re
pent in dnjl and a/bes, in their love to God, and his
ordinances, in renouncing their own righteoulnefs,
and in relying wholly on Chriil for righteoufnefs and
ftrength, in their high efteem of, and ardent love to
their dear Redeemer, in their charity and love to one
another and to all chriftians, and efpecially to thofe
who are the real difciples of the Lord Jefus, and bear
the image of their heavenly Father; in their tender
fympathy with, and affectionate concern for thofe,
that fall under diftrefs and anguifh of fpirit for fin ;
and in their endeavours to relieve them, by good
advices and proper exhortations, and to comfort the
dejected and difquieted in mind, with the corifola-
tions wherewith they themfelves had bten comforted.
Thefe are a few of the good fruits of the Spirit of
God, I obferved among feverals I converfed with at
Cambuflang.

Therefore I cannot but bear a teftimony, that in
my apprehenfion, the furprifing work with you, dear
brother, for thefe feveral weeks paft, is of God. And
if the work be of God, then neither the devil, nor
all his agents mail be able to overthrow it; yea I hope
through the divine blefTmg on the feed fown, and to
be fown, to hear more of its remarkable fuccefs with
you. As I dcfire to join you in giving thanks to
God, for this remarkable countenancing your facred
miniftrations, to many in your pariih and neighbour
hood; fo I intreat you may conftantly remember me,
and my flock at the throne of grace; and join with
us in earned and repeated prayers to God, that the
like obfervable outpourings of the Holy Spirit, may
C 4

24 ATTESTATIONS.

vifit my congregation and the neighbouring pariflies;
to revive his work in this weft-country; and may it
fpread not only through all the churches in Britain
and Ireland, but throughout all the churches in the
world, for building Zion; yea that the Heathen may
be given to Chrift for his inheritance, and the utmoil
ends of the earth for his pofleflion.

That a rich and powerful bleffing from heaven,
may crown your minifterial-labours with more and
more fuccefs, is, and fhall be the earned prayer of,

Reverend and dear Brother,

IRVINE, 6th 7 Tour affefaonaie Brother,

May, 1742. 5

and fervant in the Lord,

WILLIAM M'KNEIGHT.

ATTESTATION VII.

By Mr. John M'Laurin, one of the Miniders of
Glafgow.

May 1 2th, 1742.

TTAVING had occafion not only to converfe with
•"• feverals in this city, who have been lately awa
kened at Cambuilang, to a deep concern about fal-
vation^ and upon inquiry to get good accounts of
their behaviour -, but alfo to beftow fome pains, in

ATTESTATIONS. 25

converfations and inquiries of that kind, in the pa*
rifti of Cambuilang itfelf; by thefe means, I am in a
condition to affirm on good grounds, feveral of the
moft material things in the above narrative and attef-
tations : but in regard of the intended brevity of this
paper, I judge it proper, to avoid too particular repe
tition of things already attefted by fo many good
hands.

By the accounts which feverals of thefe people give
of their impreiTions of things of eternal importance,
with great appearances of fmcerity, fupported by the
accounts given by others of their conduct, they feem,
in the judgment of charity, to be perfons to whom
the following fcripture-chara&ers agree; viz. That
they are of broken hearts and contrite fpirits ; that they
come to God through Jtfus Chrift as the way, the life>
and the truth ; that they endeavour, by the grace of God,
to give all acceptation^ to the true and faithful faying^
^That Ckrift came to fave finners^ that they have the love
of God JJjed abroad in their hearts^ and carnejl deftres t*
have his laiu 'written on their hearts: while they are
(lill deeply fenfible of the remainders of evil, that
cleave to them and others in this imperfect ftate.

By the accounts given of their praclice, by thofc
•who have the neareft view of it, they appear to have
forfaken the fins to which they were addicted, to
delight in the duties from which they were averfe,
to watch againft tentadons, to which they formerly
yielded; and inftead of feparating one part of reli
gion from another, to have a ftricr, regard to the
precepts of both tables of the divine law: herein ex-
ercifmg themfelves to have, confdences void of offence
toward God, and toward men.

From the bed obfervations I could make on their
difp.ofition and behaviour, compared with the obfer
vations made by others, they feem, in a particular
manner, to excel in meeknefs, humility, felf-denial
and charity: in the wifdom from above, defcribed ia

26 ATTESTATIONS.

fcripture (James iii. 17.) as fir ft pure, then peaceable,
gentle and ea/y to be intreated^ full of mercy and good
JruitS) &c. in averfion from things, that tend toftrifey
rather than to edification: and in ardent defire of the
converfion and falvation of others.

I would not be underftood to afTert fuch things of
all, whom 1 know to have pretended to ferioufnefs
about religion, on this occafion; being particularly
concerned to attetl from perfona'l knowledge, in
conjunction with Mr. M'Culloch, that part of the
above Narrative, which relates to pains taken, with
fome fuccefs, in detecting deceivers: a correfpon-
dence having been fet on foot and being indeed kept
up frill, and feverals here having begun and refolving
to continue a proper fcrutiny from time to time, in
order to fuch difcoveries.

Mean time, whatever ungrateful difcoveries may
have been made already, which indeed are not many,
or may hereafter be the refult of fuch inquiries; peo
ple of candour will own, that the faults of a few par
ticular perfons ought not to be charged on a body of
ferious people, who to other evidences of fincerity,
add that of a hearty concern, that deceivers or back-
fliders may be detected, admonifhed, and by the di
vine blefling reclaimed.

Whereas an unknown perfon very lately wrote a
letter to Mr. M'Culloch, dated 2pth April, (in which
was inclofed another letter with a twenty (hilling
note to Mr. J. J merchant in this city, on account
of wrong done to his father of two or three (hillings
value many years ago) and that unknown perfon de-
fires, that in the printed account, that was expeded
of the work at Cambuflang, there might be fome in-
ftruclions about restitution; it is thought fufficient,
in regard of the fhortnefs of this paper, to refer that
perfon and others, to the fcripmres cited in our larger
Catechifm, where it treats of the eighth command.,
merit j and to approved commentaries on the ten

ATTESTATIONS. 27

commandments in general, afferting and proving the
neceffity of that duty.*

While friends of religion will judge themfelves
obliged to defire, that all who have been awakened
to ferious concern about it, may prove real converts,
perfevering to the end : they and others fhould re
member, that though feverals mould backflide, which
God of his mercy prevent, it can be ho argument
againft the fmcerity of the reft.

So far as we have credible accounts of works, to
which this bears a refemblance, it does not appear, by
what I can recollect, or learn from perfons well (killed
in church hiftory, that ever there were fo great num
bers awakened to fo deep concern about their fouls,
attended with fo promifing evidences, as thefe men
tioned in the above Narrative and Atteftations, with
out a happy ifiue: it appears therefore agreeable to
the rules of charity and juft reafoning, to hope for
the like good iflue as to this prefent cafe.

It coniifts with my knowledge, that as to fuch of
the people whom this paper treats of, as feern to have
attained to joyful hopes, on which fome particular
fcripture promifes appear to have a remarkable influ
ence; case is taken to examine them, and to direcl:
them to examine themfelves about the eflential evi
dences of intereft in Chrift, and fo all the promifes in
general.

JOHN M'LAURIR

• See Mr. Durham en the Ten Commands.

28 ATTESTATIONS.

ATTESTATION VIII.

By two Preachers to the fuccefs of the gofpel at
Cambuflaiig, for fevcral weeks bypaft.

May , 1742.

TTAVING had accefs to examine feveral perfons
•" that have been awakened to a ferious concern
about falvation, by means of the miniftrations of the
gofpel there, we find with many of them what we
cannot but conftruft, in the judgment of charity, to
be promifing appearances, or hopeful beginnings of
a good work of grace; fuch as, a deep fenfe of their
finful and guilty ftate, and apprehenfion of the ex
treme need of the faviour Jefus Chrift, to be juftified
by his blood, and fanftified by his Spirit: their plain
confeflion of their great ignorance, and blindnefs in
the things of God, and myfteries of his kingdom,
and earneft defire to know the truth as it is in Jefus;
and laborious diligence to be better acquainted with
the firft principles of his doclrine: deeply lamenting
their heart pollutions and abominations, as well as
their great neglect of God's worftiip, and carelefs
regard of the great falvation formerly, and with fome,
their grofs vices, and fcandalous profanations of
God's name and day; their frequent complaints of
the fin of unbelief in Chrift, and of the deadnefs and
hardnefs of their hearts, and anxious concerns and
prayers to have them foftned with the fpiritual views
of Chrift as crucified, into the exercifes of godly
forrow and repentance, and reduced in captivity to
Ithe obedience of the faith: their cautious guar
jigainflfin and temptation: their tender circumfpec

ATTESTATIONS. 29

tion over themfelves, left the corrupt convention
of others, the hearing of which fometimes is un
avoidable, might ftifle their ferious concern, and ex-
tinguifh religious impreflions: their frequent watch-
fulnefs unto the duties of worfhip, reading the fcrip-
tures, as it becomes the oracles of the living God,
hearing the gofpel preached, with ferious attention,
as the voice of Chrifl fpeaking to them; praying to
God as the fearcher of the hearts and trier of the
reins: humbly fupplicating him, with a deep fenfe of
their own unworthinefs and demerit, as the Father
of all mercies, and God of all grace in Chrift, and
making confciencc of having him frequently in their
thoughts, and being tenderly fenfible when the Spi
rit breathes on their fouls in fuch exercifes, as a
Spirit o^ life and liberty, and anon when he with
holds his fenfible influences and confolations of
grace, their hearts are troubled.

And when we confider that the young are early
inquiring the ways to Zion, feeking the Lord with
weeping and fupplication, that finners are taught
God's '.vays, and tranfgreflbrs converted to him, the
openly profane and profligate, who were running
headlong in the paths of the deftroyer, and enticing
and corrupting others into the fame pernicious cour-
fes, ftopt in their hot career, and reformed by fove-
reign victorious grace, frequenting chriftian fellow-
fhips, and abounding in chriftian conference, and
heartening and encouraging others to walk in \vif-
dom's ways, which are pleafantnefs and peace: we
have good ground to rejoice at this remarkable fuc-
cefs of the gofpel, and to blefs the name of God for
giving fuch a fenfible teftimony to the word of his
grace, and to plead in prayer to him, filling our
mouths with this argument, That as he has begun
to lift up a cloud of his gracious prefence on this
fpot of his vineyard, that he would fpread it far and
wide, fo that in many places the gathering of the

30 ATTESTATIONS.

people may be to our Shiloh, and many may be
obferved to fly unto him as clouds and as doves to
their windows, even to fly for refuge from the wrath
to come, and to lay hold on the hope fet before
them.

JAMES YOUNG.
ALEX. DUNCAN.

At CAMBUSLANG.

May 6thy 1742.

TN regard the parim of Old Monkland at prefent
*- wants a minifler, we fubfcribing heritors and el
ders of the faid parim, hereby teftify; That there is
a confiderable number of perfons belonging to this
parim, who have been awakened at Cambuflang, to
a deep concern about their falvationj and that we
have converfed with feverals of them, who, to our
apprehenfion, feem to be in a hopeful way.

ROBERT DONALD, Elder,
ALEXANDER SCOTT, Elder,

ATTESTATION IX.

By Mr. David Connel, Preacher of the gofpel.

X7"

•*•

defire fome account from me, of what I have
obferved or know with regard to the work at
Cambuflang, which I (hall give without art or dif-
guife.

ATTESTATIONS. 31

I have converfed with a good many in this parifh
that have been affected there. Some have told me
that by what they heard in fermon, they had great
defire raifed in thtir minds to be burdened with fin,
that fo they might come to Chrift: and then have
got fo great a fenfe of fin and guilt as they could
well bear. Others that have come to me in great
diftrefs, when I afced them how they came to be in
that condition, -iniwered, that while they were hear
ing fome private exhortations of the minifter, a great
many of their fins were brought to their remem
brance They thought they had been doing nothing
but finning all their days; that they were empty o£
all good, and that they were undone without Chrift.
Some have told me, they met with great oppofition
in going to attend upon the ordinances, but they be
came rtfolute and went: and what places of fcrip-
ture firft faftened any fenfe of fin upon their minds;
how this was more and more increafed, and what
text kept them from defpair amidft the greateft ter
ror one could readily be under. Others, that all
things in the world were now become taftelefs to
them, feeing the danger their fouls were in. I have
fee<n fome fitting alone all in tears, and when I afked
them what was the matter, they faid, They were
afraid left their convictions (hould go off without
any good effect; and expreffed a ftrong defire after
Chrift. Others that feemed to be under great con
cern, being afked what they wanted, faid, Conviction
of fin and faith in ChrifL I have been greatly fur-
prifed, to hear fuch a diftinct account of the pro
voking nature of fin, arid the terms of our accep
tance with God, given by thofe that are reputed the
moft ignorant, and who I believe knew fcarce any
thing at all of religious matters till this work began.
I cannot fay that among all I have converfed with
here, I have found one in defpair, but have heard
them exprefTmg a great fenfe of their inability to
believe.

32 ATTESTATIONS.

I have heard them exprefling the highed efteem of
the mercy of God, and the mediation of Chrid; the
mod earned defirc after an intered in him; and tel
ling the promifes and declarations of mercy, and re-
prefentations of Chrifl in the fcfipture, that were
the foundation of their hope, and praifing Chrift as
one altogether lovely.

I have heard them expreffing a fenfc of the evil of
fin, and their own vilenefs by if, earned defires after
perfection in holinefs, and fears left they mould fall
back into their former finful ftate; mentioning the
promifes that fupported them under thefe fears, and
telling what love and joy, and praife thefe produced,
when caft into their minds.

Their earned defires and diligent endeavours after
more knowledge, the deep fenfe and a fweet relifh
of divine, truths they feern to have, their readinefs
to apply what they hear to themfelves, even thefe
things that difcover more of the corruption of their
hearts, or errors of their lives to, them, the pouring
out of their fouls to God in prayer, which they fpeak
©f, the perplexity and dejection I have feen them in,
when, as they told me, they have not been able to
do this, the fteadinefs and fixednefs of their minds
en fpiritual things, not only in dated duties, but
when about their worldly affairs, that they inform
me of: their grief when vain thoughts fill their
minds, and reftlefsnefs till they recover their former
fpirituality, their charitable difpofitions towards men,
of which I could give a variety of indances, their
great care to do the will of God, and fear led they
trud in their own righteoufnefs: thefe and other
things I have obferved in or heard from them, and
about them, put it out of doubt with me, that the
finger of God is in this work, which I pray may
more and more appear. I amy

Sir,
KILB RTD E,1 Tours, &c.

tfb>\i^ 5 DAVID CONNJ5L.

[ 33 3

AN ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND SACRAMENT
AT CAMBUSLANG : IN A LLTTER FROM
MR. MCCULLOCH TO A BROTHER.

Reverend and dear Brother.

YOU know that we had the facrament of the
Lord's fupper difpenfed here, on the eleventh
of July laft. It was fuch a fweet and agreeable time
to many, that a motion was made by Mr. Webfter,
and immediately feconded by Mr. Whitefield, that
we mould have another fuch occafion again in this
place very foon. The motion was very agreeable to
me, but I thought it needful to deliberate before
coming to a refolution. The thing propofed was
indeed extraordinary, but fo had the work in this
place been for feveral months paft. Care was there
fore taken to acquaint the feveral meetings for prayer
with the motion, who relifhed it well, and prayed
for direction to thefe concerned to determine in this
matter. The Seflion met next Lord's day, and tak
ing into confideration the divine command to cele
brate this ordinance often, joined with the extra
ordinary work that had been here for fome time
pafti and underftanding, that many who had met
with much benefit to their fouls at the laft folem-
nity, had exprefled their earned defires of feeing
another in this place mortly; and hearing that there
were many who intended to have joined at the lail
occafion j but were kept back through inward dif-
couragements or outward obftruclions, and were
wilhing foon to fee another opportunity of that kind
here, to which they might have accefs: it was there
fore refolved (God willing) that the facrament of the
Lord's fupper fhould be again difpenfed in this pa-
riih on the third Sabbath of Auguft then next to-

D

34 A L E T T E R,

come, being the fifteenth day of that month. And
there was firft one day, and then another, at fome
diftance of time from that, appointed for a general
meeting of the feveral focieties for prayer in the pa-
rim, at the manfe, who accordingly met there on
the days appointed, with fome other chriftians from
places in the neighbourhood: and when the manfe
fometimes could not conveniently hold them, they
went to the church; and at one of thefe meetings,
when light failed them in the church, a good num
ber, of their own free motion, came again to the
manfe, .and continued at prayers and praifes toge
ther, till about one o'clock next morning.

•4rhe defign of thefe meetings, and the bufinefs
which they were accordingly employed in (befides
finging of pfalms and bleffing the name of God to
gether) was to a(k mercy of the God of heaven to
ourfelves: to pray for the Seceders and others, who
unhappily oppofe this work of God here, and in
fome other parts where it takes place; that God
would forgive their guilt in this matter, open their
eyes, remove their prejudices, and convince them
that it is indeed his work, and give them repentance
to the acknowledgment of this truth: that the Lord
would continue and increafe the bleflcd work of
conviftion and converfion here, and in other places
where it is begun, in a remarkable meafure, and ex
tend it to all the corners of the land: and that he
would eminently countenance the difpenfing of the
facrament of the holy fupper a fecorid time in this
place, and thereby to make the glory of this latter
folemnity to exceed that of the former. Much of
the Lord's gracious prefence was enjoyed at thefe
meetings for prayer, returns of mercy were vouch-
fafed in part, and are ftill further expedted and
hoped for.

This fecond facrament occafion did indeed much
excel the former, not only in the number of mini-

A L E T T E R. 35

fters, people and communicants, but, which is the
main thing, in a much greater meaiure of the power
and fpecial prefence of God, in the obfervation and
fenfible experience of multitudes that were attend
ing.

The minifters that aflifted at this folemnity were
Mr. Whiteiield, Mr. Webiler from Edinburgh, Mr.
M'Laurin and Mr. Gillies from Glafgow, Mr. Robe
from Kilfyth, Mr. Currie from KinglaiRe, Mr.
M'Kneight from Irvine, Mr. Bonner from Torphich-
en, Mr. Hamilton from Douglafs, and three of the
neighbouring minifters, viz. Mr. Henderfon from
Blantyre, Mr. Maxwell from Rutherglen, and Mr.
Adam from Cathcart. All of them appeared to be
very much affifted in their work. Four of them
preached on the faft-day, four on Saturday; on Sab
bath I cannot well tell how many, and five on Mon
day, on which lad day it was computed that above
twenty-four minifters and preachers were prefent.
Old Mr. Bonner, though fo frail that he took three
days to ride eighteen miles from Torphichen to Cam-
buflang, yet his heart was fo fet upon coming here,
that he could by no means flay away, and when he
was helped up to the tent, preached three times with
great life; and returned with much fatisfac~lion and
joy. Mr. Whitefield's fermons on Saturday, Sab
bath and Monday, were attended with much power,
particularly on Sabbath night about ten, and that on
Monday, feveral crying out, and a very great but
decent weeping and mourning was obfervable thro'
the auditory. On Sabbath evening while he was
ferving fome tables, he appeared to be fo filled with
the love of God, as to be in a kind of extacy or tranf-
port, and communicated with much of that bleffed
frame. Time would fail me to fpeak of the eviden
ces of the power of God coming along with the reft
of the afliftants: and I am in part prevented by what
is noticed by Mr. Robe in his Narrative.
D 2

36 A L E T T E R.

The number of people that were there on Satur
day and Monday, was very confiderable. But the
number prefent at the three tents on the Lord's day
was fo great, that, fo far as I can hear, none ever
faw the like fince the Revolution in Scotland, or even
any where elfe, at any facrament occafion: fornc
have called them fifty thoufand; fome forty thou-
fand; the loweft eftimate I hear of, with which
Mr. Whitefield agrees, who has been much ufed to
great multitudes, and forming a judgment of their
number, makes them to have been upwards of thirty
thoufand.

The number of communicants appears to have
been about three thoufand. The tables were double,
and the double table was reckoned to contain one
hundred and fourteen, or one hundred and fixteen,
or one hundred and twenty communicants. The
number of tables I reckoned had been but twenty-
four: but I have been fince informed, That a man
who fat near the tables and kept a pen in his hand,
and carefully marked each fervice with his pen, af-
fured that there were twenty-five double tables or
fervices, the lad table wanting only five or fix per-
fons to fill it up. And this account feems indeed
the moft probable, as agreeing nearly with the num
ber of tokens diftributed, which was about three
thoufand. And fome worthy of credit, and that
had proper opportunities to know, gave it as their
opinion, that there was fuch a blefled frame fell
upon the people, that if there had been accefs to get
tokens, there would have been a thoufand more
communicants than what were.

This vail concourfe of people, you may eafily
imagine, came not only from the city of Glafgow,
and other places near by, but from many places at a
confiderable diftance: it was reckoned there were
two hundred communicants from Edinburgh, two
hundred from Kilraarnock, one hundred from Irvine,

A L E T T E R. 37

and one hundred from Stewarton. It was obferved,
That there were fome from England and Ireland
here at this occafion: a confiderable number of Qua
kers were hearers: a great many of thefe that had
formerly been Seceders were hearing the word, and
feveral of them were communicants. A youth that
has a near view to the miniftry, and had been for
fome time under great temptations, that God's pre-
fence was no more to be enjoyed, either in the
church, or among the Seceders, communicated here,
and returned with great joy, full of the love of
God.

There was a great deal of outward decency and
regularity obfervable about the tables. Public wor-
(hip began on the Lord's day juft at half pad eight
in the morning. My action fermon, I think, was
reafonably (hort: the third or fourth table was a
ferving at twelve o'clock: and the laft table was a
ferving about fun-fet, when that was done, the work
was clofed with a few words of exhortation, prayer
and praife, the precentor having fo much day-light
as to let him fee to read four lines of a pfalrn. The
pafles to and from the tables, were with great care
kept clear, for the communicants to come and go.
The tables filled fo quickly, that oftimes there was
no more time between one table and another, but
to fmg four lines of a pfalm. The tables were all
ferved in the open air, befide the tent, below the
brae: the day was temperate: no wind 'or rain in
the leaft to difturb. Several perfons of confiderable
rank and di&inclion who were elders, moil cheer
fully aflifted our elders in ferving the tables, fuch as
the Honourable Mr. Charles Erfkine of
Advocate, Bruce of Kennet, Efq; Gillen of Wall-
houfe, Efq; Mr. Warner of Ardeer, and Mr. War-
drope, Surgeon in Edinburgh.

But what was rnoft remarkable, was the fpiritual
glory of this folemnity, I mean the gracious and
D 3

38 A L E T T E R.

fenfible prefence of God. Not a few were awaken
ed to a fenfe of fin, and their loft and periming con
dition without a Saviour. Others had their bands
loofed, and were brought into the marvellous liberty
of the fons of God. Many of God's dear children
have declared, That it was a happy time to their
fouls, wherein they were abundantly futisfird with
the goodnefs of God in his ordinances, and filled
with all joy and peace in believing. I have feen a
letter from Edinburgh, the writer of which fays,

* That having talked with many chriflians in that

* city, who had been here at this facrament, they all

* owned, That God had dealt bountifully with their
' fouls at this occafion.' Some that attended here,
declared, That they would not for a world have been
abfent from this folemrrity. Others cried, Now let
thy fervants depart in peace, from this place, fince
our eyes have feen thy falvation here. Others wifti-
ing, If if were the will of God, to die where they
were attending God in his ordinances, without ever
returning again to the world or their friends, that
they might be with Chrift in heaven, as that which
is incomparably beft of all.

I thought it my duty to offer thefe few hints con
cerning this folemnity, and to record the memory of
God's great goodnefs to many fouls at that occafion.
And now, I fuppofe you will by this time, find your-
felf difpofed to fing the ninety-eighth Pfalm at the
beginning, or the clofe of the feventy-fecond Pfalm,
or fome other Pfalm of praife. May our exalted
Redeemer ftill go on from conquering to conquer,
'till the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen,
fo let it be. In him, I amy

Tours, &c.
WILLIAM M'CULLOCH.

P. 5. It may not perhaps be unacceptable, to fubjoin
an account of the feveral texts minifters preached
on at this occafion, fo far as they occur.

A L E T T E R. 39

On Tuefday the Fa/l-day.

Mr. Adam preached on Pfal. cxix. / thought upon my

ways, &c.
Mr. Robe on Ifa. liii. IO. He hath put him to grief :

•when thoujhalt make, £5V.
Mr. Henderfon on Rom. viii. 33, 34. Who Jh all lay

any thing to the charge, &c.
Mr. Currie on John iii. 29. He that hath the Bride

is the Bridegroom, &c.

On Friday Evening.

1 preached on Ifa. liii. 1 1. Hejhallfee of the travel of
his foul and be fatisjied.

On Saturday.

Mr. Whitefield on Jo. xiii. 8. Except I luajh thee, &c.
Mr. Webfter on I Pet. 2. 7. Unto you that believe he

is precious.
Mr. Robe preached from his former text on Ifa. liii.

10.
Mr. Bonner on Song iii. 3. Saw ye him whom my foul

loveth.

On the Lord's Day.

I preached the Action Sermon on i John iv. 10.
Hen in is love, &c.

The texts at the feveral tents I can give little ac
count of.

About ten at night Mr. Whitefield exhorted in the
church-yard without a text.

40 A L E T T E R.

On Monday.

Mr. Webfter, about feven in the morning, preached

on Luke xii. 32. Fear not, &c.

Mr. Hamilton on i ThefT v. 17. Pray •without ceo/ing.
Mr. Whitefield on the parable of the marriage fupper.
Mr. M'Kneight on Matt. xv. 28. 0 woman great is

thy fait hy &c.
Mr. Gillies on Job xxii. 21. Acquaint now thyfetf

•with him.

A FAITHFUL

NARRATIVE

o F T H E

EXTRAORDINARY WORK

O F T H E

SPIRIT OF GOD,

A T

K I L S Y T H,

AND OTHER CONGREGATIONS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD*

With a Preface wherein there is an Addrefs to the
Brethren of the Afibciate Prefbytery, anent their
late Acl: for a public Fait.

Written by JAMES ROBE, A. M. Minifter of the
Gofpel at Kilfyth.

Numb, xxiii. 43. — According to tits time it Jhall befcid of Jacob, and

cf Ifrael, What bath Cod -wrought!
Luke xvii. I, a. — // is impojjible but that offences -will came: but iu9

unto him through -whom they come. It -were better for him that a

miljlone -were hanged about his neck, and be cajl into the J'ea, than that

Ic Jbculd of end one of thefe little ones.

GLASGOW:

PRINTED BT DAVID NIVEN.
M,DCC,LXXXIX.

THE

PREFACE.

IT is tranfporting and aftonifhing, that after all the
great and horrid provocations we have given the
moft High in this church and land, by growing
deifm and infidelity, carnality and profanity, for
mality and hypocrify, our bitter envyings and unrea-
fonable divifions; but mod of all by a general reject
ing of the bleiTed Son of God by unbelief, and ufing
gofpel ordinances contentedly without feeling the
power of them, the Lord hath been fo far from
utterly forfaking us, and making our country defolate
by fome deftroying judgment; that he is in wrath
remembering mercy, and beginning manifeftly to re
vive his work, and help us in fuch a fituation, as
was become hopelefs and helplefs by any human
poflible means.

There hath been a great and juft complaint amongft
godly minifters and chriftians of the elder fort, who
have feen better days, that for fome years paft, there
hath been a fenfible decay as to the life and power
of godlinefs. Iniquity abounded and the love of many
'waxed cdd. Our defection from the Lord, and back-
Hiding increafed faft to a dreadful apoftacy. While
the government, worfliip and do&rine, eftablifhed in
this church were retained in profeffion; there hath
been an univerfal corruption of life, reaching even
unto the fons and daughters of God. Former ftricT:-
nefs as to holinefs, and tendernefs of life was much

44 PREFACE.

relaxed among both minifters and people of the bet
ter fort: a formal round of profeflional duties was
the religion of the profeflbrs, and in this they refted:
as to the multitude they were vifibly profane, and
without any fenfe of religion at all. Things were
become fo bad with us, that there were few, we the
minifters of the word, could comfort as believers in
Chrift, and exhort to rejoice in hope of the glory of
God, when we found them a dying. All this was
obferved by fome, and looked upon as the caufe of
God's controverfy with us; and what, they feared,
would provoke him to fend fome defolating judgment,
to avenge the quarrel of his thus broken covenant:
and in this view they gave warning as occafion of
fered.

It is one of Satan's devices, to engage fome dif-
treiTed fouls, to be deeply exercifed about thefe things
which either are not their fins, or among the leaft
of them; that hereby he may divert them from mind
ing their greateft fins, and thefe which are the caufe
of God's controverfy with them. Some zealous good
men, both minifters and others fell unwarily into
this fnare. They looked upon fome things of mif-
management in government and difcipline, which
others were difiatisfied with as well as they, with
fuch earneftnefs, that they cried out againft them as
the moft crying fins, the caufe of the Lord's contro
verfy with us, portending dreadful judgments, and
what corrupted the church fo far, as nothing could
fecure the falvation of her members, but coming out
of her, and feparating from her. Hereby they were
led to overlook what was our greateft evil, and the
caufe of God's controverfy with us, namely the cor
ruption of the lives of the members of this church,
and that we had a name to live, while we were in a
great meafure dead, as to faith, love to God and one
another, and other branches of holinefs.

This unhappily filled the heady and mouths of the

PREFACE. 45

mofl of profeflbrs to fuch a degree, as to mind and
converfe about nothing even upon the Lord's day;
but minifters, church judicatories, and fome other
difputable things, far from the vitals of religion.
The (late of their fouls was much forgotten, and they
were either difafFe&ed to their worthy minifters, and
the Lord's ordinances difpenfed by them-, or if they
attended, they were diverted by thefe things from a
concern about their regeneration, converfion, and
amending their ways and doings, which were not
good. Wherever our lamentable divifions prevailed,
ferious religion declined to a (hadow.

All this while we had a dead and barren time.
The work of converfion went but flowly and indif-
cernibly on. The influences of the Holy Spirit were
reftrained. The Lord's prefence was much with
drawn, and the power of his grace little exerted arid
put forth, fo that the gofpel had but fmall fuccefs,
either for bringing fouls to Jefus Chrift, or for quick-
ning and refrelhing real chriftians. Minifters and
godly chriftians, who obferved thefe things with for-
row, were filled with fears left the Lord had poured
forth a fpirit of deep fleep upon this generation, and
given unto his fervants the commiflion he gave unto
the evangelical prophet Ifaiah, Ifa. vi. 9, 10, 1 1, 12.
And he Jaid, Go, and tell this people. Hear ye indeed^
but undtrftand not; and fee ye indeed, but perceive not.
Mate the heart of this people fat, and make their ears
heavy, and Jhut their eyes: left they fee 'with their eyesy
and hear with their ears, and under ft and 'with their
heart, and convert and be healed. Then faid I, Lord,
how long? and he anfiutred, Until the cities be ivajled
without inhabitant, and the hoitfes •without man^ and ths
land be utterly dejolate, And the Lord have removed
men far away, and there be. a great forfaking in the
midjl of the land. Several minifters gave warning to
their people, that they were afraid left thefe fpiri-
tual judgments moft frequent in New Teftament

46 PREFACE.

times were inflicted upon many of them, and might
further.

Things being come to this extremity, it was the
Lord's opportunity to glorify his name in a vvav fur-
prifing to us, and peculiar to himfoif. We were
going on towardly in the way of our heart, notwith-
ftanding a variety of fmiting judgments and alluring
mercies; he, in his fovereign mercy and goodnefs,
hath begun to fee our ways and heal them, when
nothing elfe could help and prevent our ruin, and
we were proof againft all other difpenfutions, he hath
vifited us with fuch a difpenfation of his Spirit, as is
fufficient to do it, and which we pray that it may,
and hope that it ihall be general unto the whole
church and land. This extraordinary out-pouring
of the Holy Spirit, whereby great numbers of fecure
finners are awakened, and many of thefe converted^
and rilled vrith faith, and more than ordinary peace
and joy in believing, appeared firft upon the i8th
of February laft, and continues at Cambuflang a
little parifh within four miles, South-Bail of Glaf-
gow. A well attefted Narrative of this hath been
publifhed.

Bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus
Chrift, that this fenfible prefence and power of the
Holy Ghoft, hath not been confined to that highly-
favoured parifh: but began to vifit us upon the laft
Sabbath of April laft, being the 25th day of that
month, as it did alib foon after in feveral other con
gregations lying to the North, North-Eaft and North-
Weft of Glafgow. This work fo extraordinary upon
the fouls of many in thefe congregations is the fame
with that at Cambuflang. The method of the Spi^
rit's operation is alike in all thefe congregations*, and
the effects of it upon the bodies of the awakened,
which have not been fo common at other times, are
alfo much the fame.

The bodies of fome of the awakened are feized

PREFACE. 47

with trembling, fainting, hifterifms in fome few
women, and with convulfive-motions in fome others,
arifing from that apprehenfion and fear of the wrath
of God, they are convinced they are under, and
liable to becaufe of their fins. They have a quick
apprehenfion of the greatnefs and dreadfulnefs of
this wrath before they are affected.

Thefe effects upon the bodies of fome of the awa
kened have been objected againft this work, by many.
And fome have not been afraid to afcribe it to the
devil, and to traduce the whole as delufion.

As there were the very fame appearances accom
panying fuch an effufion of the Holy Spirit in fome
of our American colonies j fo the fame objections
were made againft them, which have been made
againft this appearance of God among us. This hath
occafioned the reverend and judicious Mr. Edwards,
minifter of the gofpel at Northampton in New-Eng
land to preach, and publish a fermon upon the diftin-
guiming marks of a work of the Spirit of God,
wherein he fatisfyingly anfwers and takes off the fore-
faid objections. It would be fuperfluous and unne-
ceffary to anfwer apart after him, feeing this fermon
hath been oftener than once reprinted in North Bri
tain, and is and will be in as many hands, as any
other anfwer probably can, with this advantage, that
by the furprifmg direction of providence it comes
from one in a foreign country, who preached and
publifhed it long before this appearance of the Lord
in his glory and majefty amongft us.

I cannot however forbear to obferve and offer the
following remarks to the reader.

Fir/}, That there are fome who do not cry out in
the congregation, neither have any of the aforefaid
bodily feizures, who have been under a law-work
for fome months, and are, as far as we can know
the (late of another, favingly converted: and there
are others who have been under the fevereft bodily

48 PREFACE.

diftrefs, in whom the work of conviction and con-
verfion, as to the main ftrokes of them, anfwer to
the former as face to face in a glafs. Is it poflible
then that any thinking perfon will conclude that all
is delufion with the latrer, merely becaufe their bo
dies were ftrangely difordered, when they were at
firfl awakened to feel themfelves in a ftate of fin and
wrath, feeing there are the very fame inconteflible
evidences of the converfion of the laft, as there are of
the firlt.

Secondly^ There are few obferving perfons who
have not feen fudden fears, and great forrow upon
worldly grounds, caufe faintings, hifterick-fits, con-
vulfions, bodily agonies and ftrugglings. The apoftle
faith, Wordly forrow ivorketh death What reafon
can be affigned, why legal terrors and fears, aftrong
apprehenfion of the wrath of God in perfons who
know not but the fentence of condemnation may be
executed upon them immediately, fhould not have
the like effecls upon their bodies? efpecially confi-
dering that the caufe and reafons of their fears are
incomparably jufler and greater. Several of us mi-
niilers have long ere now feen perfons diftracted as
Heman was with the terror of God.

"Thirdly) There is much reafon to conclude that
the work of God in converting many in feveral pa-
rimes in the (hire of Ayr, and other places of the
Weft from 1625 to 1630 was attended with much
the fame apperances as this now. it was called the
Stewarton ficknefs by the malignants becaufe of the
bodily diftrefs which accompanied it. I (hall tran-
fcribe the ihort account which the Author of the ful
filling of the fcriptures gives of it, page 264. " I
muft here inftance a very folemn, and extraordinary
out let ting of the Spirit, which about the year 1625
and thereafter was in the Weft of Scotland, whilft
the perfecution of the church there, was hot from
the Prelatick party j this by the profane rabble of

PREFACE. 4«,

that time, was called the Stewartoa fickoefs, for in
that parifh firft, but after through much of the coun
try, particularly at Irvine, under the miniiiry of the
famous Mr. Dickfon, was mod remarkable, \vh--j-
can be faid (which divers mini Hers and chrifthns
yet alive can witnefs) that for a confiderable time,
few fabbaths did pafs without fome eminently con
verted, ami fome convincing proof of the power of
God accompanying his word, yea that many wert fo
choaked and taken by the heart, that through terror,
the Spirit in fu~h a meafure convincing them of Jin,
in hearing of the word, they have been made to fall
over, and thus carried out of the church, who after
ward proved mod folid and lively chriftians; and as
it was known fome of the moft grofs who u*c*l to
mock at religion, being engaged upon the fame that
went abroad of fucli things, to go to fome of the fa
parts where the gofpel was then moft lively, have-
been effectually reached before their return, with a
vifible change following the fame; and truly, this
great fpring-tide which I may fo call of the gofpel,
was not of a (hort time, but for fome years continu
ance, yea, thus like a fpreading moor-burn, the power
of godlinefs did advance from one place to another,
which put a marvellous luftre on thefe parts of the
country, the favour whereof brought many from other
parts of the land to fee the truth of the Cam;." The
fimilitude and likenefs of this work amongft us unto
that referred to, feems evident; and can thefe bodily
effects mentioned be juft grounds of objection againft
this work now, and not alfo againft the other?

Fourthly, It is not to be forgotten, that in New-
England where hundreds were affected in their bo
dies, the fame way feverals v/ith us are, the moft
part of thefe who were thought to be conviiled, have
continued now for fome years to profefs (erious reli
gion, and to praclife it without returning to their
former follies. And (hall we not hope the fame of
E

5o PREFACE.

thefe converted amongft us, feeing alfo they have
continued for feveral months or weeks, fmce they
appeared to be converted, in a defirable way? efpe-
cially when fome parts of the mod refined and un
common morality have been pra£tifed by them, of
which fome inflances may be given in the following
Narrative.

I forbear to give inftances from the holy fcriptures,
of things exactly fimiliar to thefe bodily diftrefles in
cur cafe, feeing I have already referred to Mr. Ed
wards fermons. Only it is furprifing, that fome rea-
fon, as if they had never read the hiftory in the 2d
of the Acts, or the Jaylor, or Felix trembling, and
of the converfion of the holy apoftle Paul*, and as if
they found in their Bibles pofitive declarations, that
the Lord would never to the end of the world, fuffer
fmners to cry out, tremble, faint, or fall down
aftonifhed, under a work of conviction, and appre-
henfion of his jufl and dreadful wrath.

Lajily> I ferioufly beg of any who are prejudiced
againft this difpenfation of God's extraordinary grace,
and look upon it as delufion, that they will (hew
themfelves fo charitable and good, as direct me and
other minifters what we (hall anfwer diftrefled per-
fons of all ages, who come to us, crying bitterly that
.they are loll and undone, becaufe of unbelief and
their other fins. What JJjall we do to be faved? and
as a young girl about twelve, who had been in diftrefs
for fome time, called for me to a feparate place in a
houfe where I was, and afked me, with great fedate-
nefs, what (hall I do to get Chrift ? Shall we tell them
they are not chriftlefs and unconverted, when we
evidently fee many of them to be fuch? Shall we tell
them that their fears of the wrath of God is all but
delufion, and that it is no fuch dreadful thing as they
need to be fo much afraid of it? Shall we tell perfons
lamenting their curfing, fwearing, fabbath-breaking,
and other immoralities, that it is the devil who makes

PREFACE. 51

them now fee thefe evils to be offenfive to God, and
definitive to their fouls? Shall we tell them, who
under the greateft uneafmefs, enquire at us, what
they (hall do to get an intereft and faith in Jefus
Chrift, that Satan is deluding them, when they have
or {hew any concern this way? In fine, (hall we pray
and recommend it to them, to pray to deliver them
from fuch delufions? It would be worfe than devilifh,
to treat the Lord's fighing and groaning prifoners at
this rate. And yet fuch treatment is a natural con-
fequence of reckoning this the work of the devil,
and a delufion.

There are only two other objections I mall endea
vour to take off becaufe they are popular, and have
reached even unto us.

The firft is taken from the notoriety and obferva-
blenefs of this work. They object that it cannot be
the work of the Holy Ghoft, and any real true con-
verfion which is fo open to public notice, and makes
fo much noife; for our Lord faith, Luke xvii. 20. The
kingdom of God cometh not •with obfervatton.

It is matter of wonder, that this objection mould
have its rife from them, who mould be able, and care
ful to look beyond the tranflation to the original, and
if they have, its not confiftent with honefty, to make
fuch an objection, feeing they cannot but know, that
the Greek word refers to fuch earthly pomp, gran
deur of equipage, and attendance wherewith earthly
kings ufed to make their public appearances, or as
our tranflators give the word otherwife upon the
margin, •with outward flow. Beza's note upon this
fcripture, is both fhort and good, and therefore I
give the meaning of it rather in his words than my
own. ' The kingdom of God cometh not with obferva-
( twit, that is, With any outward pomp and mew of
4 majefty to be known by: for there were otherwife
4 many plain and evident tokens, whereby men might
•' have underftood, that Chrift was the Mefiias, whofe
E 2

5* PREFACE.

' kingdom was fo long looked for : but he fpeaketh
c in this place of thefe figns which the Pharifees
' dreamed of, who looked f$r an earthly kingdom of

* the Meffias.' Our Lord dtfth not in the lead in fin u-
ate that the coming of the'kingdom of God in the con-
verfion of Jews and Gentiles was to be fiJently fet up
without noife and imobferved, for this would have
been contrary to facl. Did not the Spirit's work of
converfion at Samaria quickly reach the ears of the
church at Jerufalem ? Were not the convert! on 8 from
Paganifm to Chriitianity with obfervation? Is any
notorioufly profane and wicked perfon in any con
gregation convicted, and his life reformed without
obfervation? The remark of the Rev. Mr. Cooper in
his preface to Mr. Edwards fermon formerly quoted,
isveryjuft: after mentioning the uncommon appear
ances accompanying this work: he fays, * If it were
' not thus the work of the Lord would not be fo much
1 regarded and fpoken of; and fo God would not have
f fo much of the glory of it: nor would the work itfelf
1 be like to fpeed fo fail; for God hath evidently
' made ufe of example and difcourfe in carrying it

* on.' May a fovereignly gracious God make his
work foon appear to his fervants through the whole
land, and his glory unto their children. May the
heavenly influence, like lightning, fly from congre
gation to congregation, alarming every unconverted
fmner, and filling their hearts and lips with impor
tunate inquires, c What (hall we do to be faved.'

The fecond objection is taken from thefe called
Camizars a part of the barbaroufly perfecuted and
opprefled Proteftants in France after the revocation of
the edicl: of Nantes. They appeared in the Cevennes,
a barren and defert country (it is to be obferved that
the AfTociate Prefbytery have been fo fond of muf-
tering up different kinds of enthufiafts, that in their
late aft they have inftanced the Camizars and Ceven
nes as different, though they were the fame, and cal
led Cevennes from the country where they moftly ap-

PREFACE. 53

peared,) there were a number among them who pre
tended to infpiration, and if the accounts we have of
them be genuine, by that infpiration they gave ex
hortations to repentance, and foretold feveral things
which the event hath proven falfe. Other things are
reported of them that there is reafon to believe were
ficlious. Many of them came over to London about
and after the year 1702. The hiilory of whom was
given in Englilh by one Lacy, which hath been hand
ed about here by fome enemies to this work of God.
They were under frequent bodily agitations, convul-
fions and extraordinary motions, and it is pretended
that their cafe is the fame with ours, and feeing they
were under delufion, this mull be a deluiion alfo.

To fatisfy fuch who have been praftifed upon: I
would have them to obferve firft, that as thofe bodily
agitations are no evidence of perfons being under any
operations of the Spirit of God, elfe all the perfons
under convulfions, cramps, hifterifms, £c. would
be fuch: fo upon the other hand they are no evidence
that thefe thus affed'ted are under a fpirit of delufion ;
for feveral of the prophets of old had fometimes ex
traordinary motions upon their bodies; and many
have them in the way of bodily difeafes, which phy-
ficians fay proceed from natural caufes. So that the
bodily agitations confidered in themfelves are no
fymptoms of perfc-.is being under the influence either
of a good or bad fpirit.

There is the greateft difparity and unlikenefs be
tween the cafe of the Camizars and thefe affecled
among us. The Camizars had their bodily agitations
from a fupernatural power, as they declare in the
forefaid book of Lacy's. The diftreffes upon the bo^
dies of our people proceed in a natural way, from the
great fear of God's wrath, wherewith their minds are
feized, becaufe of a Hate of unbelief they are deeply
convinced of. The Camizars pretended infpiration,
and if what they declared of themfelves be trut they
E 3

54 PREFACE.

underftood not fometimes what they uttered, neither
did they remember it afterwards. Their organs
were moved and ufed in fpeaking, by fome fuperna-
tural power, without their own will and influence of
their natural powers. None of our people ever pre
tended in the leaft to infpiration, they give a rational
account of themfelves, know and remember what
they fay and do. The Camizars continued many
years under their bodily agitations whenever their
pretended infpirations feized them, and thefe did
not proceed from any apprehenfion of the wrath of
God due to them becaufe of their fins. Our people
are delivered from thefe bodily diftreiTes, which do
not return upon them again, when they are delivered
from their fears. Among the Camizars their pre
tended infpired teachers were only aflecled, and that
while they were uttering their revelations. Amongft
us only fome of our hearers, who through the power
of the Holy Spirit, are by the word convinced of
their fin and danger. The exhortations of the Cami
zars to repentance and amendment of life, were
without any mixture of the gofpel concerning Jefus
Chrift, and the principles, means, and motives to
repentance revealed therein. In ours a work of con
viction is diftinclly carried on to a work of faving
converfion in many, according to the doctrine of the
gofpel, and by the influence thereof.

After this fair ftating of the difference between the
Camizars and the fpiritually diftrefTed amongft us, I
leave it to the impartial reader to judge whether there
is the leaft (hadow of reafon to compare this work to
the delufion of the Camizars. And if it be not the
mod unfair dealing to do fo in a general way to the
{tumbling of weak people, while they themfelves can
not but know if they looked at all into the hiftory
of thefe people, that there is no fuch likenefs between
their cafe and that of ours as to warrand the objec
tion. There are now, blefied be the Lord, many

PREFACE. 55

inftances in fcveral corners of this church, of a fav-
ing work of conversion witnefling that this is the
work of the Spirit of God, and that the kingdom of
God is come nearer to us than ever.

I hope my reader will bear with my taking occafion
from this objection to expoftulate a little with my
brethren of the Seceifion, who compare this work of
the Holy Spirit to the delufion of the Camizars.

My dear brethren, my hearts defire and prayer to
God for you is, That he may open your eyes, to fee
the many miftakes you labour under, give you repen
tance to the acknowledging of the truth, and forgive
the thoughts of your heart, and the words of your
lips uttered now both againft God, and your brethren,
flandering your own mother's fons. Whatever bitter
names you and your party give us, whatever bitter
reproaches you caft upon us, and how much foever
you magnify yourfelves againft us, faying to us, Bo<w
down) that tue may go over; we take all patiently: and
there are thoufands of witnefles, that we return you
blefling for curfing, and pray for you who defpitefully
ufe us. We would lay our bodies as the ground,
and as the ftreet for you to go over, if it could In.
the lead contribute, to remove your prejudices, and
advance the kingdom of our dear Redeemer: but we
cannot look upon the guilt you have brought your
felves and many others under, without the deepeft
grief; and upon the oppofition you give us in our
mod fincere and hearty endeavours, to recover fin-
ners out of the fnare of the devil, and win them to
Jefus Chrift, without the moft zealous concern.

I had a paper tranfmitted to me by the Monday's

poft entitled, Act of the Ajficiate Preflytery, anent a

public f aft t dated at Dunfermline, the ijth of July

. 1 742, full of great fwelling words, altogether void of

the Spirit of the meek and lowly Jefus, and the moft

heaven daring paper, that hath been publifhed by

any fet of men in Britain thefe hundred years paft.

E 4

56 PREFACE.

Therein you declare the work of God to be a delu-
fion, and the work of the grand Deceiver. Now, my
dear brethren for whom 1 tremble, have you been
at due pains to know the nature and circumilances
of this work, h^ve you taken the trouble, to go to
any of thefe places where the Lord hath appeared in
his glory and majefty, and informed yourfelves
anent it from miniiteis, fome of whom I can aflure
you would have concealed nothing from you? Have
you ever fo much as written to any of them to receive
information from them, and have they declined or
refuied to give it? It is not confident with common
juiiice to condemn them as deceivers; but is it not
amazing ramnefs, without inquiry or trial, to pro
nounce that to be the work of the devil, which, for
any thing you know, may be the work of the infi
nitely good and holy Spirit? Is not this too like the
Scribes and Phanfees who afcribed the miraculous
work of our Lord, wrought by the Holy Ghoft, to
an evil, and unclean fpirit? Are you not afraid left
you come too near this fin? Or if you arefecure as
to yourfelves, yet fhould you not tremble at the
thoughts of the blafphemous ami ungodly fpeeches
feme of your people utter by your means, and which
you mull certainly account for as the finful caufes of
them? One of your party, who had confulted one of
your number, faid, that if he thought the Spirit of
God would come, by the minifters of this church, he
would not own it.

You fay its obvious, that bitter outcrying, faint-
ings, fevere bodily pains, convulfions, voices, vifions
snd revelations, are the uiual fymptoms of a delufive
fpirit, that have appeared in Quakers, &c. This hath
been anfwered already. As to voices, vifions, and
revelations none of our people, who are come to re
lief by faith in Chrifr, pretend to them; and all ate
cautioned a^ainlt fuch deceits. You fay, no found
divine amongft us hath ever maintained thefe bodily

PREFACE. 57

diftreffes, as agreeable to, and concerned with, the
faring operations of the Spirit of God. How deceit
ful is this your reafoning? Can you fay that found
divines amongil us maintain that they ^einconfiilent
with a faving work of the Spirit of God, and that
there can be no faving operations of the Spirit where
thefe are? If YOU had laid this, and proven it, you
would have faid fomething: but this is what yea
could not, what you dur't not fay.

You fay further, That none of the fruits of this
work, which have been alledged, are fufficient to dif
ference it either from the common work of the Spi
rit of God upon hypocrites, or from the delations of
Satan. You ihould have inftanced thefe fruits of
this work which are aliedged, and fhown that they
are not fufficient. Since you have not condescended
upon them, 1 iliall do it for you. The fruits of it in
many are, godly forrow for fin, univerfal hatred at
it, renouncing their own righteoufnefs, and embrac
ing the righteoufnefs of God by faith in Jefus Chrift,
embracing Him in all his offices, univerfal reforma
tion of life, a fuperlative love to our blefled Redeem
er, love to all they fee bear his image, love towards
all men, even their enemies, earned defires and pray
ers for the converfion of all others. Thefe are the
fruits of it in many, and do not thefe fufficiently dif
ference this work both from the common work of
the Spirit of God upon hypocrites, and from the de-
lufions of Satan? I know from what you have
preached and written you will not venture to publifh
that they do not ? Will any believe that you knew net
thefe are alledged as the fruits of this work, feeing
you mention the miffives, alterations and journals,
relating to this work which have been publifhed? I
leave it to the impartial reader, and to your own con-
fciences to pronounce judgment upon fuch unfair
dealing.

As to what you alledged of thefe fruits of it which

58 PREFACE.

you fay are undeniably evident, fuch as a warm aver
(ion and oppofition to your tcftimonyy a clofe con
junction with their minifters, and a vifible neglect o
relative and ftational duties. The lad is undeniably
falfe in the fight of all who fee the lives of thefe new
converts, and who are the likeft fcripture converts
of any I ever knew. As to the firft two, dare you
tell the moft furioufly zealous for your teftimony>
and againft their own minifters, that thefe things arc
marks and evidences of faving grace, and that they
may depend upon them as fuch? Or that the judg
ing your teflimony irregular, and what the Lord
required not at your hands in the way and manner
you have given it; and their clofe conjunction with
their minifters are certain evidences, that they are
chriftlefs and gracelefs who do fo ? I am perfuaded
fome of you, have fo much of the root of the matter
in you, as you dare not for a world fay either of
thefe two.

And now, my dear brethren, can you find in your
hearts, after all the prayers you have put up in pu
blic and private for the outpouring of the Spirit from
on high upon this poor church and land, to deny
that it is he, and reject him, when he is come, not
for our fakes, but his holy name's fake, which we
had profaned ? Can you find in your hearts to be
like the Jews, who prayed and longed for the com
ing of the Meffias, and when he came, rejected and
crucified him, bccaufe he came not in the way their
prejudices led them to look for him? Can you be fo
unaffected with the glory of infinitely fovereign grace
appearing towards a judgment deferving generation,
as to fay, You do •we// to fret and to be angry at it;
becaufe you find your glory is leiTened by it, and
your credit beginning to fuller. Will you be fo
fearlefs, can you be. fo cruel to thoufands of perifti-
ing finners, who begin to fly to Jefus Chrift as a
cloud and as doves to their windows; as in the moft

PREFACE. 59

folemn and public manner, with lifted up eyes and
hands to heaven, to pray that there may be a reftraint
upon the influences of the Holy Spirit, and that this
outpouring of his grace may be withdrawn, and not
fpread through the breadth and length of the land?
I can afTure you many godly fouls will with tears cry
as Mofes did in the cafe of the rebellion of Korah.
Lord rejpeft not thou their offering. And after our
Lord's example, Father Jor give them^for they know not
what they do.

Several minifters are charged by you, with im-
pofing upon the people, and being at indefatigable
pains, by their printed Miflives, Atteftations and
Journals, to deceive, if it were poffible, the very ele5ly
&c. I rejoice to be affbciate with fo many worthy
men whole praife is every where in this church, and
who, though they are as deceivers with you, yet are
true, and mall by grace be found to be true at the
coming of our Lord and yours. It is our comfort
that we fufler in this what our great Matter fuffered
before us. They called him, this deceiver, and fome
of them faid, Nay, but he deceiveth the people. We
are confcious to ourfelves, that we defire, and defign
to preach not ourfelves, but Jefus Chrift our Lord;
warning every man, and teaching every man in ail
wifdom; that we may prefent every man perfect in
Chrift Jefus: whereunto I alfo labour, driving ac
cording to his working, which worketh in me migh
tily. Let heaven and earth praife him, that we may
expefience more of this now than ever we did before.
If you go on to hinder and oppoie us in this, and
aflbciate yourfelves with other enemies to the crofs
of Chrift, take heed left you be found fighters againft
God. I cannot do better than put you in remem
brance of an inference judicious Flavel hath in his
fermon upon John vi. 44. ' What enemies, faith he,
c are they to God and the fouls of men, that do all
'• they can to difcourage and hinder the converfion of

60 PREFACE.

* men to Chrift? God draws forward, and they do

* all that in them lies to draw backward, i. e. to pre-
c judice and difcourage them from coming to Jcfus

* Chrift in the way of faith: this is a dhecl: oppo-

* fition to God, and a plain confederacy with the
' devil.' As to my ends in publiiliing the Journals
from Kilfyth, you might have feen them prefixed to
the firtl Journal; I am forty that in as far as they
refpe&ed you they are not as yet attained, and do
aflure you that if they had, you would not have been
deceived.

You further charge us, whom you call promoters
of this work, with pleading for a boundlefs toleration
and liberty of confcience. Where and when did we
that? I know none of my brethren ever did it. And
I am fo far confcious of my innocence; that I infift
upon your making your charge good; if you do not,
as I am fure you cannot, it is no pleafure to me, that
you have given reafon to the world, to reckon you
Slanderers, and to me to befeech you to repent, and
to pray the Lord to forgive you, which I defire to do
from my heart. Let us all remember that the pul-_
pit, and facred papers, can never fancHfy (lander and
defamation, but immenfely aggravate the crime.

I do not meddle at this time with other parts, or
with that part of your paper concerning the Rev.
Mr. George Whitefield, whom I love in the truth,
and not I only, but many in all the churches who
have known the truth; for the truth's fake which
dwelleth in us and (hall be with us for ever. Only
I am of opinion that he mould do juftice fo far to
himfelf, and the minifters of the church of Scotland,
as to fet what pafled between you and him in a juft
light. If it be not true that in your clofe converfa-
tion with him, you offered to receive him into full
communion with you, without any terms at all, but
his promiiing not to preach upon any invitation
given him by any minifter in this church, you are

PREFACE. 61

-:quitcd as you have fo often done unto others. I
eave it to your conferences to judge, whether \ve,
vdio have received him to full t ;ra\uniun, or you
*'ho are bitter enemies to him, homologate moft
[you will probably underline! the wtrd) the word
part of the: church ot Kn^'und who are his proftfled
enemies, ard feek to opprefs him tor 'preaching the
truth as it is in Jefus. Remember who hath faid,
and upon what occafion, ivaerejore receive ye cr:e an-
other^ as Chrifl cJfo received us, to the glory of God.

Thus, dear brethren, 1 have dealt with you in love,
that 1 might do my part not to fufFcr fin to lie upon
you. If any angry man of your party, fall upon me
in the way, that hath alas been too ufual, I have, and
J hope, if the Lord fpare me, (hall long have more
important work to do, than to mind it, or to give it
any return. Now the God of patience and confola-
tion, grant you and us to be like minded one towards
another, according to Chriil Jtfus: that we may with
one mind and one month glorify Cod, even the Fa
ther of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

The preceding obfervations, though poffibly of no
great i:fe to fome readers, yet are needful to many in
this country; and the expostulation occafioned by
the extraordinary aft of the aflbciate prefljytery, are
the apologies 1 make for the length of this Preface
to the defigned hitlorical Narrative of the beginning
and progrcfs of this unlocked for and furprifmg dif-
penfation of grace towards this, and other congrega
tions in this country, and which poffibly may not
bear proportion to its Preface. 1 had a prevailing
inclination from the beginning, with all the exacTc-
nefs I was capable of, to obferve every thing that
pair., and with the molt fcrupulous nicenefs, to ex
amine every uncommon circumftancc, and to take
down notes of what appeared to me moft material.
I was encouraged and directed in this by fome of
great judgment, and who juftly have influence upon

62 PREFACE.

me. This hath iflued in a Journal of what was moi
obfervable in the cafe of many in this congregation
who have applied to me from time to time, for in
ftruction and direction under their fpiritual diflrefs.

The judgment and defire of friends 1 value, hav
had confiderable weight with me to effay the follow
ing Narrative, with a dependence upon the divin.
affiftance, and as the Lord fhall permit. The o
miflion of our worthy forefathers to tranfmit to po
Verity, a full and^circumftantial account of the con
verfion of five hundred by one fermon at the kirk o:
Shots in the year rdjo, of the beginning and pro-
grefs of the extraordinary outletting of the Hoi)
Spirit in the Welt of Scotland already mentioned,
I have heard much complained of and lamented,
And I cannot but think that if after fuch complaints
we are guilty of the fame neglect, we will be more
blame-worthy before God, our own confidences, and
pofterity.

But that which mod of all prevails with me is,
that as I, in the moft exprefs and deliberate mannei
I can, defign and intend it to the praife and glory of
God, renouncing all other ends contrary to this; fo
I am perfuaded it will by his blefiing contribute to it,

Every godly one into whofe hands it may come,
will doubtlefs find matter of praife from it to the
Lord. Others who laboured under miftakes anent
this work, through prejudices from opinions they
have entertained as to the manner wherein the Lord
might come to revive his work in this church, may
poflibly when they hear thefe things, hold their
peace, and glorify God, faying, then hath God alfo
granted repentance unto life unto our brethren
whom he hated : as the apoflles and church of Jeru-
faiem did when they heard of the converfion of the
defpifed Gentiles. And doubtlefs others when they
hear of the Lord's bringing fo many of Zion's prifo-
ners cut of the fearful pit and miry clay, and putting a

PREFACE. 63

icw fong in their mouth, even praife to our God,
hall by his grace be brought to fear and truft in the
..ord.

But praife to our God, for thefe his mighty ads,
s not to be confined to the prefent generation,
.vherein they appear. Poflerity fhall reap the bene-
it of them, and it is our duty to tranfmit the hiftory
>f them to pofterity, that they may reap the greater
jenefit by them, and praife the Lord more diilinftly
or them. It would be a contempt of thefe wonder-
ul works which God hath made to be had in re-
nembrance, if they mould be buried in oblivion, fo
is not to be known by thofe who live in after ages.
Jne generation mould praife his works to another,
tnd mould declare his mighty acls. This we are
•xprefsly commanded to do, that after generations
nay put their truft in God and praife him, Pfal. cii.
1 8. This fiall be 'written for the generation to come>
ind the people -winch JJjall be created foall praife the
Lord. Pfal. Ixxviii. 5, 6, 7. For he eftablijled a
ejlimony in Jacob, and appointed a la-w in Ifraely which
be commanded our father sy that they ftould make them
''.no'wn to their children. That the generation to come
night know them, even the children ivhich JJjould be
'wn : who JJjould arife and declare them to their chil-
Iren: that they might fet their hope in Gcd> and net for
get the worlds of God.

In this Narrative I propofe to give an account of
his furprifing difpenfation of grace, in the begin-
ling, progrefs and various circumftances of it, with
he ftricteft regard to truth in all the exa£tnefs I can,
A. poliflied ftile is not to be expected from one, wha
nuft redeem time from eating and fleeping to carry
c on. To write intelligibly is all I aim at. I have
10 view of leifure to publim above a meet of it once
i week or fortnight, and this is the reafon why it is
lot emitted at once. To ferve the truth and the in-
erefts of religion, and to fatisfy the longing curiofity

64 PREFACE..

of them, who are giving Zion's King no reft until
he make his Jerufalem a praife in the midft of the
earth, are what I intended.

May the Holy Spirit, whofe work upon the fouls
of many is to be narrated, accompany the Narrative
with his powerful influences, that it may promote
the Redeemer's intereft, and make every reader feel,
by his faving operations, that he is indeed come in
an uncommon way of grace. And may this whole
church, and all the ends of the earth fee greater
things than thefe. Amen.

K i L s r r H,~)

•b, 174*- 5

JAMES ROBE.

A FAITHFUL

NARRATIVE

OF THE

EXTRJORD IN ART WORK

OF THE

SPIRIT OF GOD,

A T

K I L S Y T H,

AND OTHER CONGREGATIONS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.

town and parifh of Kilfyth, formerly and
ordinarily, until of late, called Moniabroch arts
fituate between the river of Kelvin, running upon
the South fide of the faid pariih, and the liver of
Carron, running upon the North fide, and the {hire
of Stirling upon the South fide thereof, where it joins
with the (hire of Dumbarton. The town of Kilfyth
itfelf ftands at near an equal diftance from the city
of Glafgow upon the South-Weil, Falkirk upon the
Eaft, Stirling upon the North, and Hamilton upon
the South; upon the King's high-way, where it crof-
feth to thefe towns: its diltance from them being
about nine miles.

The people of the faid parifh, being above eleven
hundred examinable peifons, are, for the moft part,
of a difcreet and towardly difpofition. 1 was fettlei
among them in the year 1713, they have lived peace
ably with and carried dutifully toward* me. Th*

66 K I L S Y T H

moft part of them have attended upon public ordi
nances and means of inftru£tion, as well as any about
them. The moft of them, who are about or under
forty years, have attained fuch a meafure of know
ledge of the principles of religion as renders them
inferior to few of their ftation and education.

For feveral years they appeared to profit under
gofpel ordinances, by the blefling of the Lord upon
them. In December 1732, and January 1733, the
Lord vifited us with a diftreiTmg calamity and heavy
judgments. There were many of the elder fort car
ried ofF by a pluretic fever, after a few days illnefs.
Upwards of fixty were in the fpace of three weeks
burried in our church-yard. What made this dif-
penfation more threatning was, that the moft religi
ous and judicious chriftians in this congregation,
were removed from us thereby. This made me fear
fome dreadful evil to come upon the furviving gene
ration. I publifhed to the praife and glory of God^
and with thankful acknowledgements to his mercy
and power, that I enjoyed then a ftate of health and
ftrength uncommon to me, as I do at this time,
though I travelled from morning till late at night, all
the days of the week, among the fick and dying.

After this the ftate of religion declined, and grew
every year worfe with us. Our focieties for prayer
came gradually to nothing. The younger fort attain
ed indeed to knowledge, took up a profeflion, and
numbers of them were yearly added to the communi
cants: but I could obferve little of the power of god-
linefs in their lives, that was fatisfying to me. As
to the elder fort, thefe of them who were gracelefs
and chriftlefs went on in their former fins and care-
lefsnefs, without any appearance of a change to the
better: thefe who were profeflbrs feemed fenfibly to
degenerate into a negligence and indifFerency about
fpiritual things, and fome of them into drunkennefs
and other vices.

NARRATIVE. 67

Upon the 27th of June 1733, about and after mid
day, being Wednefday, there was fuch a dreadful
florm of thunder, hail, and rain as no man living
h/d ever feen. The fire burnt a woman and child,
but both their lives were preferred, while a cat was
killed at one of her feet, and a pitcher, with fome
other things, were broke to pieces at the other. The
hail was incredibly big, fome of it, which I meafured
myfelf, was three inches round. It deftroyed much
of' i he corns to the Eaft of the town of Kilfyth. The
il • els came from the mountains fo great and rapid,
tlm- they carried down Hones a great way into the
plain lying beneath the town of Kilfyth, and thefe
of prodigious bignefs. There were above a thoufand
cart loads of them, and many two or there ells in
depth and thicknefs. Some houfes were carried
away, a good number of cattle drowned, and the moft
of the corns in the low grounds deftroyed. The lofs
of the parim was moderately computed at a thoufand
pounds fterling. Yet I could not obferve any one
perfon amended by it, or feeking to the Lord for all
this.

When our unhappy divifions broke out, only about
ten or twelve deferted my miniftry. They were of
no confideration, as to ferious religion, or even
knowledge, except one, who fometime fince faw
his error and returned. Yet though the body of the
people were not carried away by this evil, they were
fo bewitched as to incline to the feparating fide, and
were fo taken up with difputable things, that little
concern about thefe of the greateft importance could
be obferved among them. All the focieties for prayer
were then given up. I gave fair and open warning
from the firft appearance of the divifion againft it.
I continually inftrucled them in the evil, and dread
ful confequences of it. Though fuch warnings were
not well relifhed by many, yet I am perfuaded the
Lord blefTed them, to preferve the body of the cori-
F 2

63 K I L S Y T H

gregation out of thcfc dangerous paths, and I know
feveral of them are now fenfible of God's mercy and
goodnefs to them in this. By the power of God
accompanying his ordinances, life was kept in the
few who were made alive to God, through Jefug
Chrift; and others had knowledge, begun and in-
creafed, as a foundation laid before hand for this
work of the Holy Spirit.

Under the late dearth this people fuffered greatly,
the poor were numerous, and many, efpecially about
the town of Kilfyth, were at the point of ftarvirig:
yet, as I frequently obferved to them, I could not
fee any one turning to the Lord who fmote them, or
crying to him becaufe of their fins, while they howl
ed upon their beds for bread, inflead of this, theft
and other immoralities brake forth and increafed to
a terrible height. The return of plenty had no bet
ter influence upon us; but we were going on fro-
wardly in the way of our own heart, when the Lord
came to fee our ways and heal them, by this un
common difpenfation of his grace; all this hath been
narrated, that every one may obferve the fovereign
freedom and riches of grace, in vifiting, after this
fort, fo (infill, degenerate, and ungainable people.
Surely not for our fakes, but for his own holy name'*
fake he hath done it; that we may now be amamed
and confounded for our evil ways.

In the year 1740, I began to preach upon the doc
trine of regeneration. The method I followed, by
the divine direction, was firft to prefs the importance
and neceflity of it, which I did from John iii. 3. £x-
€tpt a man be born again, he cannot fee the kingdom of
God. Next I (hewed the myfterioufnefs of the way
and manner of the Holy Spirit in effecting it, from
John iii. 8. The wind bloiueth •where it lifleth, and
theu heareft the found thereof \ but canft not tell whence it
eometh, and whither it goeth : fo is every one that is born,
of the Spirit. I proceeded thirdly, to explain and

NARRATIVE. 6j

apply the various fcripture views and exprefTions of
it: as firft, being born again, from the forequoted
John iii. 8. Secondly, a reiurreclion, from Rev. xx.
6. B!e/id and holy is' he, that hath part in the fir ft re-
furre&ion. Thirdly, A new creation, from Eph. ii.
10. For we are his workman/flip, created in Jefus Ghrift
unto good ivorks. Fourthly, Chrift's conqueft of the
fmner to himfelf, from Pfal. ex. 3. Thy people flail
be •willing in the day cf thy power. Fifthly, The cir-
cumcifion of the heart, from Exek. xliv. 9. 'Thus faith
the Lord God^ no flranger uncircumcifed in hearty nor
uncircumcifed in fleft, flail enter into my fanfluary, of
*fiy Jir anger among the children of IfraeL This was
alfo intended to mew the ncceflity of regeneration,
in order to the receiving the Lord's fupper worthily,
to be difpenfed in the congregation about that time.
Here this fubjecl was interrupted until the end of
lad year; when I refumingit, preached regeneration
as it is. Sixthly, The taking away the ftony heart,
and the giving the heart of llefh, from Ezek. xi. 19.
Seventhly, The putting of God's law in the mind, and
writing it in the heart, from Heb viii. 10.

I fometimes could obferve that the doclrine of
thefe fermons was acceptable to the Lord's people,
and that there was more than ordinary ftrioufnefs in
hearing them, yet could fee no further fruit. But
BOW I find that the Lord, who is infinitely wife, and
knoweth the end from the beginning, was preparing
fome for this uncommon difpenfation of the Spirit
that we looked not for; and that others were brought
under convictions iiluing, by the power of the high-
eft, in their real converfion, and in a filent way.

When the news were firft brought me of the ex
traordinary out-pouring of the Holy Ghoft at Cam-
buflang, I rejoiced at them. I prayed continually for
the continuance of it there, and that the Lord v/ould
thus vifit us in thefe bounds, and fpake of it fome
times to the congregation, which was not withoui
F 3

70 K I L S Y T Ht

fome good fruits, as I have learned fmce. Particularly,
I was informed by the minifter of Cambuflang, and
another reverend and very dear brother, that a young
man from the parifli of Falkirk, who had been awa
kened at Cambuilang, and was in a hopeful condition,
faid, that the occafion of his coming there, was his
hearing me, the Sabbath immediately preceeding,
praife the appearance of the Lord at the aforefaid
place, and that this ftrongly inclined him to go thi
ther.

There were few of the people under my charge,
went to Cambuflang, notwithftanding of what they
heard me fay of it. Some of the better fort went
once or twice: but I fcarce heard of any who needed
mod of the work of the Comforter to convince them
of fin, righteoyfnefs and of judgment that went there
until the 1 3th of May, when there were a good many,
but came all away, as far as I knew them, without any
deep or lading impreffions upon them. It was mat
ter of difcouragement to me, when I heard that my
brethren in Cumbernauld, Kirkintilloch, Calder, and
Campfie, had feveral perfons in their pariflies awa
kened at Cambuflang, and that I had not one, fo
much as the leaft touched to my knowledge. What
appeared the moft hopeful was, that there appeared
a concern more than ordinary among the hearers of
the gofpel, and that there were propofals for fetting
up focieties for prayer, which had been long inter
mitted.

Upon the Thurfday's evening, being the I5th of
April laft, the ^everend Mr. John Willifon, minifter
of the gofpel at Dundee, came to my houfe in his
return from Cambuflang, whither he went the Sa
turday before. I defired him to preach to us upon
the Friday morning, which he readily complied with,
a great multitude of people met, though the warning
was very fliort. He preached a diftincl, plain, and
moving fermon, fromFfal. si. 2, 3. He brought me up

NARRATIVE. 71

eilfo out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and fat
tny feet upon a rock, and ejlablt/hed my goings. And he
bath put a new fong in my mouth, even praife to our
God: many flail fee it, and fear, and Jlall trujl in the
Lord. Several of thefe now awakened date their
firft ferious concern about their fouls from their hear
ing this fermon, and the blefiing of the Lord upon
it.

The following Sabbath I entered upon the view of
regeneration, as it is exprefled Gal. iv. 19. My little
children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Chrijl
be formed in you. I had more than ordinary tender-
nefs in reading of that text, and could fcarce do it'
without tears and emotion. I obferved much feri-
oufnefs among the hearers.

Laft Sabbath of April, being the 25th, one woman
was awakened in this congregation to a very diftref-
fing fight of her fin and danger thereby. She lived
in the pariih of Campfie, which lieth to the Weft-
ward of this parim. She was obferved by fome, un
der great uneafinefs in the congregation, but made
no out-cry; (he went away when the congregation
was difmifled, but was not able to go far, {he was
found foon in the field in great diftrefs, and crying
out, what me mould do to be faved; {he was brought
back to me, and I converfed with her all that evening,
in the prefence of feveral judicious perfons. She
fainted once or twice, I obferved every thing nar
rowly and exactly about her, becaufe it was a new
thing to me, and I knew the objections made againft
the work at Cambuflang. She feemed to be a heal
thy woman, and about twenty years of age, {lie faid,
that in hearing the fermon me was made to fee that
(he was unlike Jefus Chrift, and like the devil, and
in a ftate of unregeneracy. She had Itrong impref-
fions of the greatnefs of the wrath of God, flie was
lying under, and liable to. She went away compofed
and calm in a hopeful condition; {he continued many
F 4

72 K I L S T T H

•weeks, now and then much diftrefied; but hath
fometime ago attained, through grace, to fenfible re
lief, and by the teftimony of the neighbourhood, her
converfation is fuch as becometh the gofpel.

About this time fixteen children, or thereby, in the
town of Kirkintilloch, were obferved to meet toge
ther in a barn for prayer, the occafion of which was,
that one of them faid to the reft, what need is there
that we {hould always play, had we not better go and
pray, wherewith the reft complied. The reverend Mr.
James Burnfide, as foon as he heard of it, carefully
enquired after them, met frequently with them, for
their direction and inftruclion. And, as I am in
formed, they make progrefs, and continue in a hope
ful way. This made much noife in the country fide,
and deep impreflions both upon young and old.

This week I vifited the families of a part of this
parifh, where I obferved more than ordinary feri-
oufnefs amongft the people, and more than ordinary
liberty, freedom and earneftnefs in my dealing with
them. However it was matter of trouble and exer-
cife to me, that none under my charge, that I knew
of, were awakened, and I was much in my way of
thinking, like feveral of thefe now awakened, who
•were concerned at firft, leaft the Lord had parted
them by, when he was awakening others. Such
were my fears about this parifh.

Nothing appeared more than ordinary upon the
firft Sabbath of May. Near this time, and a little be
fore, there were fome focieties for prayer erected in
the parifh, I was alfo informed, that feveral young
girls in the town of Kilfyth, from ten to fixteen years
of age, had been obferved meeting together for pray
er, in an out-houfe they had accefs to.

May qth, being the fecond Lord's day that month,
v/ere four or five awakened to a diftreffing fight of
their fmful and loft eft ate, though only two of them
were known to me upon the faid day. I prayed and

NARRATIVE. 73

hoped that this might be like fome drops before a
plentiful rain.

May \ \tb9 there was a great and a good day of
the Son of man at Auchenloch in the pariih of Calder,
which lieth four miles North and Weft, from Glaf-
gow. The Rev. Mr. James Warden, their minilter,
preached, at the aforefaid place, there was a great
cry in that congregation, and about fourteen brought
under great concern and anxiety about their fpiritual
and eternal ftate.

May i 2th, I went to Cambuflang and preached
there, as did alfo fome other miniiters upon the next
day. I was witnefs there to a great day of the Me
diator's power, and learned much, that by the Lord's
blefling hath been ufeful to me in aflifting the Lord's
people brought under fpiritual diftrefs here.

May I4//6, being Friday, I left Cambuilang in the
morning, I met an event in my way homeward,
which much furprized me, and I could not but ob-
ferve the Lord's hands remarkably in it. I promifed
to meet a friend at a gentleman's houfe betwixt Cam
builang and Kilfyth, upon the Tuefday's evening •, but
could not leave Cambuflang that night. I purpofed
therefore to be early at the faid gentleman's houfe
next day, though the road by which I went to Cam
buflang was unexceptionably good, I was llrongly
inclined to try a much nearer way, altogether un
known to me, and notwithitanding fome difTuaded
me from it, becaufe of mofles and other inconveni-
encies. In my way I came to a houfe, which I was
told belonged to Meffirs. Grays, and that their bleach-
field was there. I remembered that thefe gentlemen
were married to the daughters of a gentleman whom
I knew, and highly efteemed from my youth, and
fince I found myfelf at their gate, 1 inquired for
them, with a purpofe not to alight. One of the
gentlemen and his lady were at home, they urged
me to come into their lioufe, though it fliould be only

74 K I L S T T H

for a little, which I did. They told me that fix of
their fervants had been awakened at Cambuflang fome
days fince, and defired me to convgrfe with them. I
had fuch a ftiong inclination to get forward in my
journey, that I declined it: they defired me to pray
in their family, which I cheerfully complied with.
After prayer I fpoke a few words as the Lord helped
me, to their numerous fervunts who were prefent,
relating to the cafe of thefe who were under foul
diftreffing convictions of their fin and danger, as
alfo of thefe who never had been under them. Hav
ing difmifled them, I went to take my horfe. Ere I
got to him, a noife was heard among the fervants,
and we were told that one of them was fallen into
great urieafinefs, and was crying bitterly. I returned
to the houfe, and fhe was brought to me. I had con-
verfed but a very (hort time with her, when a fecond
was brought to me, then a third, in a little after that
two together, laft of all a fixth, crying out of their
loft and undone (late, and what they fliould do. I
prayed and converfed with them for fome time. I
was much moved with this providence, The Lord
•who leads the blind in a iuay they know not% led me to
this houfe) without any thought or purpofe of mind; yea
contrary to my inclination, which was to haften for
ward. He managed my averfion (which I now fee
to have been fin-ful) to converfe with the firft fix
under diftrefs, to bring about his own holy and glo
rious ends: for if I had converfed with them, I had
not feen the other fervants. His ways are a great
deep. Mr. Whitefield when I told him this ftory,
faid, only he muft needs go through Samaria. I was
greatly pleafed to obferve the chriftian affectionate
and zealous care Mr. and Mrs. Grays had for their
diftrefled fervants.

May \6th> I preached, as I had done for fome time
pad, from Gal. iv. 19. In the forenoon I infilled up
on an ufe of confolation, and in the afternoon prefied

NARRATIVE. 75

11 the unregenerate to feek to have Chrifl formed in
hem. An extraordinary power of the Spirit from
•i high accompanied th-3 word preached. There
vas a great mourning in the congregation, as for an
>nly ion. Many critd out, and thtfe not only wo-
nen-, but fome ftrong and ftout hearted young me a,
md fome betwixt forty and fifry.

After the difmlflion of the congregation, an efHiy
,vas made to get the diftrcfltd into my barn, but it
:ould not be done; the number of them, and of their
,riends attending them, were fo many. iVas obliged
:o convene them in the kirk. I fung a pfaim and
grayed with them-, but when I eflayed to fpeak to
hem I could not be heard, fuch were their bitter
;ries, groans, and the voice of their weening.

After this I ordered, that they ihould be brought
jnto me in my clofet one by one. I Tent alfo for
the Rev. Mr. John Oughterfon, rninifter of the gofpcl
it Cumbernauld, to aflift me in dealing with the
iiftrefled that evening, who readily came. In the
nean time I appointed pfalms to be fung with thefe
a the kirk, and that the precentor, with t-vo or three
:>f the elders, mould pray with the diftrefled ; which
:he extraordinarinefs of this event feemed to me to
warrant. At the fame time I difchargcd any to ex-
lort or fpeak to them in the congregation,, that I
might cut off occafion of calumny and objection,
From them who feemed to defire it.

The noife of the diftrefled v/as fo great that it was
icard from afar. It was pleafant to'hear thefe who
were in a ftate of enmity with God, defpifers of Je-
fus Chrift, and Satan's contented Haves, forne of
:lujm crying out for mercy, fome that they were loll
md undone, others, What jlall nve do to be Javed>
others praifing God for this day, and for awakening
:htm, and others not only weeping and crying for
:hemfelves; but for their gracelefs relations. And
pet it would have moved the h'ardeft heart, that, as

76 K I L S Y T H

the children of Ifrael under Pharaoh's oppreiTion,
when I fpake unto many of them, they hearkened
not, for anguifh of fpirit, and the feni'e of the cruel
bondage they were under.

There appeared about thirty awakened this day,
belonging to this and the neighbouring congregations.
About twenty of them belonged to this pariih. Some
few to the pariih of Campfi«, and the remainder to
that of Khkintilloch. But I have found fince, in
converting with the diftrefled, that the number of
the awakened far exceeds thirty.

Wednefday i <$th> We had fermon for the firft time
upon a week-day. I preached, as did alfo the Rev.
Mr. John Warden, minifter of the gofpel at Campfie,
and the Rev. Mr. John M'Laurin, minifter of the
gofpel at Glafgow, who had come hither the night
before, upon my invitation. The number of the
awakened this day, were as many as were upon the
Lord's day. The greateft number was from the pa-
rim of Kirkintilloch; there were alfo fome from the
pariihes of Campfie and Cumbernauld. The number
of the awakened, belonging to this parifh, amounted
this week to forty.

May 2otk, The minifter of Kirkintilloch, Mr.
M'Laurin and I, preached at Kirkintilloch, there we
faw Zion's mighty King appearing in his glory and
majefty, and his arrows fharp in the heart of his
enemies. Many were awakened there, and brought
under great fpiritual diftrefs.

Having brought this Narrative to the firft con-
fiderable and remarkable out-pouring of the Holy
Spirit upon this corner, before that I proceed to the
intended method of this Narrative, it will no doubt
be fatisfying to my readers to know the progrefs this
blefled work hath made, and the number of the a-
wakened in the feveral parifhes, into which, by the
Lord's mercy, it hath entered, as far as I am inform^
edj or can upon fome good grounds guefs.

NARRATIVE. 77

There have been at leaft three hundred awakened
ii this pariih, fince the beginning of this work, of
vliich about two hundred belong, or did belong to
his pariih. There were indeed about fourteen or
ifteen of them awakened when Mr. Whitefield
reached at Cumbenvauld. In the pariih of Cum-
jernauld, neighbouring with this parifti South-ward,
is the miniiter informs me, there are above eighty.

In the panih of Kirkintilloch there are, known to
.lie minifter, about a hundred and twenty, under a
nore than ordinary concern about their falvation,
including the praying young, who are increafed now
to a greater number, than formerly mentioned.

In the pariin of St. Ninians, a part whereof lies
South-ward from this parifti, the number of the
awakened muil be confiderable. The firft remark
able appearance of this good work there, was at the
giving the holy fupper, upon the firft of this current
Auguft. There were feveral awakened upon the
Saturday, many more upon the Lord's day, both ia
the kirk, during the action fermon, and the fervice,
and alfo in the congregation in the fields. There
were yet a far greater number upon the Monday,
which was one of the greateft days of the Mediator's
power I have hitherto fcen. Many of the awakened
belong to that parifti, as alfo to the parifti of Gar-
gunnock. By a letter from the Rev. Mr. James
Matkie, minifter of the gofpel in that parifti, I am
informed, that the number of the awakened were
increafed upon the Thurfday thereafter, when they
had fermon He appoints days for them to come t©
him for inftru'ftion and direction.

In the parifti of Gargunnock, lying Weft from th$
pariih of St. Ninians, there are, as I am well inform
ed, near a hundred perfons awakened. There were
fome of them firft of all awakened at Kilfyth, when
the Lord's fupper was given, upon the fecond Sab
bath of July; othcn at Caxrpfie, when it was givqu

78 K I L S Y T H

upon the lad Sabbath of the faid month; others a
St. Ninians, when that facrament was given upon th
firft Sabbath of Auguft. Upon the I hurfuay there
after, there were eighteen awakened in their c\vi
congregation, while the Rev. Mr. John Warden
their own aged and diligent pallor, preached to them
There was alib a conikierable awakening the weel
thereafter, the mimiler of Campfie his foil preaching
there. The miaifter of this parifh hath always hac
u fingular dexterity in inltru&ing and dealing with
the confciences of the people under his charge, and
ii is to be hoped, that there will be a good account
of the awakened in that congregation, by the Lord's
bieffmg upon the (kill and will he hath given unto
his fervant to win them to Jefus Chrift.

In the parifh of Calder, according to the informa
tion I have from their minifler, there are above a
hundred awakened.

There are about the fame number in the parifh of
Camp He.

The cafe of the parim of Baldernock, lying North
and Weft from Calder, is of all others the mod fin-
gular and noticeable. There were above ninety
awakened perfons in that parifh about the fixth of
July laft. They have been for fome years pail, and
yet are, without a paftor, their late pallor, Mr. Ro
bert Wallace, who deceafed among them, had the
charge of their fouls above fifty years: he was pious,
faithful, diligent, and dearly beloved by his people;
•and, as I am informed, there was no perfon among
them was carried away by the SecefBon. The Lord
hath honoured their fchoolmafter, James Forfyth, to
be greatly initrumental in this good work among
them. I (hall give the following extract from a let
ter of his, dated Baldernock, July i7th, 1742. con
cerning the impre (lions made upon, and the awaken
ing of feveral of the young ones-, he writes, ' Since
« the firft of February laft, I endeavoured to inftruft

NARRATIVE. 79

« the children under my charge, to the utmoft of my
« power, in the firft principles of religion, and that
« they were born in a ftate of fin and mifery, and
' ftran^rs to God by nature, I alfo prefled them, by
< all arguments poilible, to leave off their finful ways,

* and lly to Jtfus Chrift by faith and repentance;
' which by the bleffing of God hath not been in vain.

* Glory to his holy name, that backed with the power

* of his Holy Spirit, that fpoken in much weaknefs.
' I likewife warned them againfl the commifiion of

* any known fin, and told them their danger if they
' per/id ed in the fame, and that their fins would find

* them out. The which exhortations frequently re-
' peated, yea almoft every day, came at iail to have

* fome impreflions on their young hearts. And I
' think the great concern that was at firft among
' them, was a mean in God's hand to bring the elder

* fort to a more ferious concern, and to more clili-
' gence in religious duties; yea, I heard fome fay,
' that they were afhamed to hear and fee thefe young
c creatures fo much taken up about their foul's falva-
' tion. That is fome account of the rife of this good
' and happy work. There was one of the fchool-

* boys that went to Cambuflang in March that was
' firft awakened, he, after fome few days, faid to me

* in die fchool, will you let two or three of us meet

* together to fing pfalms and pray? I faid, I was very

* well pleafcd to hear that they inclined to fuch a
c good exercife; fo they joined themfelves together,.
'and it hath had very good fruit. For, fome few
' days after, there were fome of them under concern,.

* and that day fourteen days they firft met, there
' were ten or twelve awakened, and under deep con-
' visions, fome very young, of eight and nine years
' of age, fome twelve and thirteen. They ftill in-

* clined more and more to their duty, fo that they
( meet three times a day, in the morning, at night3

* and at noon. Alfo they have forfakeu all their

8o K I L S Y T H

* child ifh fancies and plays; fo thefe that have bees

* awakened are known by their countenance and con-

* verfation, their walk and behaviour. The work

* among the young ones in the fchool (till increafes3

* and there -are ftill fome newly awakened. There

* were fome, that by a word of terror in their leffon,

* were very diftrefled, and would cry out and weep
' bitterly. There are fome of them very fenfible oi
' their cafe, both of the fin of their nature, and theii

* actual tranfgreflions, and even of the fin of unbe-
' lief; for when I would exhort any of them that

* were diftrefled, to believe in Chrift, becaufe he is

* both able and willing to fave to the uttermoft.
c They replied, that they knew he was both able and

* willing; but they could not believe themfelves, un-
' lefs God gave them a heart fo to do; for, they faid,

* they felt their heart fo hard, that they could do no-

* thing. This is the account he gives of the younger
' fort. — As to the elder fort, he fays, that the firft a-
4 mong them were awakened at Cambuflang, others

* atCalderandKirkintiiloch; but that the greateft part

* have been awaked at their fociety meetings, they

* meet twice a week for prayer and praife, where all

* the awakened in the pariih, with as many others as

* pleafe to come, are admitted.' There are alfo feve-
ral other little meetings, almoft every day, in diffe
rent places of the pariih, at the fecond of thefe meet
ings, there were nine awakened, at the third there
were four, at another meeting there were five or fix.
He fays that there is a greater diligence about the con
cerns of religion, even among the carelefs and igno-
arant, than ever was known before, and that the
younger fort are fo taken with religion, that they e-
(teem it more than their neceffary food. There are
fcveral under deep convictions, who were formerly
rude arid profane. — In another letter, dated July 6th
1742. He faith, that this good work ftill continues

them, and that there are a corifiderable num.-

NARRATIVE. 8t

ber newly awakened in their parifn betides Grangers
that come to their meetings from other parimes.
There were two young women in a neighbouring
parifti who had been at Cambuflang and brought
back an evil report of what they had been witnefs to
trierej they laid they wondered what made the peo-
r.le cry out. Upon the 22d of June they came to
one of thefe meetings in Baldernock, as was fuppofed,
with no good defign, they had not been above three
quarters of an hour in the meeting, when they were
brought under convictions and continued in diftrefs
the whole time the meeting lafted. He fays there
are a goodly number of them who are come to re
lief, which feems to be real from fcripture marks
and evidences they give of it.

I have been more particular and larger in this
article concerning Baldernock,* that we \vho are mt-
nifters of the gofpcl may learn from this, not to be
lifted up from any fuccefs we may have in our mi-
niftrations; feeing that though the Lord maketh
efpecially the preaching of the word an effectual
mean of convicting and converting finners, and of
building up them that are converted, yet he alfo
bleffeth the reading of the word, chriilian communi
on, and religious education, by parents, fchoolmafters
and others, for the forefaid blefied ends: and that
Ke can, and fometimes doth, make ufe of weak and
nconfiderable instruments for beginning and carry-
ng on a good work upon the fouls of men, while
Tien of great gifts, and even godlinefs, are not fo fuc-
::efsful. This is the more to be regarded as the do
ing of the Lord, that the people of Baldernock, are
not the lefs careful to attend upon public ordinances,
neither is their efteem of them diminiilled. Their
meetings do not interfere with the difpenfation of
public ordinances in their own congregation when

Auguft ajth, the awakened there are now about a» hundred.

G

*2 K I L S Y T H

they have it, nor with that in the neighbouring cor
gregations when they want it in their own. It is alf
hoped that the reading of the forefaid article, ma
excite fchoolmafters and others who have the educa
tion of youth, to be diligent in inftrudHng the young
eft of them in the principles of our holy religion, an
to endeavour daily to make impreflions upon thei i
tender minds of their finful arid loft ftate by nature
and of their only remedy by Jefus Chrift.

In the parifh of Killearn, lying about feven miles t
the North- Weft of Campfie, this good work is alf
begun. Their Rev. minifter, Mr. James Bain, hat] i
been well affected to it from the beginning, and wa \
early witnefs to it, and ailifting to carry it on at Cam
buflang, there was a confiderable awakening in thi .
parifh, when the Lord's fupper was given there
upon the third Sabbath of July, efpecially upon th»
Monday, when the Rev. Mr. Michael Potter, pro -
feflbr of divinity in the univerfity of Glafgow, am '
the Rev. Mr. James Mackie, minifter of the gofpe
at St. Ninians, preached.

In the country weft from Glafgow, there are verj
joyful accounts of the entrance and progrefs of thi;
blefled work there. In the town of Irvine, then
were a few awakened firft at Cambuflang; but nou
there are a good many awakened, that never were ai
Cambuflang, and are in very great diftrefs and anguifr
of foul, like thofe at Cambuflang, and in this coun
try. They are happy under the infpe6Hon and care
of their worthy minifter, the Rev. Mr. William
M'Kneight. In the parifh of Long Dreghorn, and
other parifhes about, there are feverals awakened. In
the town of Kilmarnock, there were about fifty from
that place awakened at Cambuflang, but there have
been many more fince in their own congregations.
This blefled work hath made lefs progrefs to the
Eaftward of Kilfyth, the people being much diftrac-
ted and divided by the influence of the Seceders, and
even furioufly prejudiced againft the difpenfation of

NARRATIVE. 83

Ordinances in this church, yet, bleffed be the Lord,
it extends even to thefe congregations. In the pa-
viih of Denny there are fevevals, fome of whom have
been awakened in their own church. There are
feveral in the united parifhes of Dunnipace and
Larbert, fome of whom have been awakened likewife
there. In the parifh of Torphichan, South from
Linlithgow, there were feven awakened, when the
Lord's flipper was given there, upon the iirft Sabbath
of Auguft.

Though I am perfuaded, a particular account will
be given to the public, of the memorable commu
nion at Cambuflang, lail Lord's day, being the »5th
of this current Auguft, yet I cannot but here infert,
That I obferved much of the Lord's prefence with
minifters, and among the vaft multitude of people
there. There were many unconverted finners awa
kened, and feverals had the love of God ihed abroad
in their hearts, by the Holy Ghoft given to them,
to fuch a meafure, as they were nigh overwhelmed
therewith. Particularly, while they were hearing,
early upon Monday morning, a fermon preached by
the Rev. Mr. Alexander Webfter, minifler of the
gofpel at Edinburgh. One of them was a young
woman, from the parifn of Kilfyth. She was brought
to me, at my firft alighting at Cambuflang, after the
aforefaid fermon. She was fo filled, with a fenfe of
the love of God to her foul, and with love to Jefus
Chrift, that (he was all in tears, and could not con
tain herfdf. She had been awakened at Kilfyth,
about the beginning of July, but had attained to no
fenfible relief, until the hearing of the aforefaid fer-
rnon. Before her awakening, me was of a blamelefs
life, and every way hopeful. Her conviftions were
kindly, and had a moft defirable progrefs. I called
for her yeflerday, and ihe gave me a fatisfying ac
count of her clofing with Chrift, in all his offices,
and of her attainments, during the forefaid fermon,

G 2

$4 K I L S Y T H

accompanied with fuch exercife of foul, as we ufe
warrantably to give from the holy fcriptures, as evi
dences of that which comes from God, in a faving
manner, upon the fouls of his people.

Having thus narrated what I have learned con
cerning the progrefs and extent of this good work,
fmce it began here ; I (hall, for the greater diftincT:-
nefs, divide the fubjec~l of this Narrative into the
following Articles.

ARTICLE I.

Concerning the method I have obferved in carrying off
this Work.

HOUGH I am far from thinking the way I
have ufed to be the very bed, and from pro-
pofing it as a rule to any, feeing, that by experience,.
I have found out fome miftakes in my management,
which I afterwards rectified, and others pollibly in
perufing this may obferve more; yet the fuccefs I
had therein, and the hope that it may be ufeful at
lead to fome of my brethren of the younger fort,
when they (hall be called, as I pray they may be
foon, to this pleafant fervice; induceth me to give
the fubjecl of this Article.

When the nr(t extraordinary awakening of num
bers was in this congregation, though I knew the
objections made again ft the outcrys at Cambuilang,
and the bodily diftrefles many were under there, and
was fatisfied in my own mind, that there was no
thing in thefe objections, yet when I heard thefe
outcries, and faw the bodily diftrcfTes fome of the

NARRATIVE. 85

awakened were under, it proved at firft very uneafjr
tome, it appeared unpleafant, yea even (hocking;
I therefore refolved, that as foon as any fell under
remarkable diftrefs, they fhould be carried out of the
congregation, into a feparate place I had provided
for them, and appointed fome of the elders to carry
them off accordingly. I alfo prayed, that if it were
the holy will of God, he would bring them to a fight
of their fin and danger, without theie bodily diftref-
fes, which were fo unpleafant to behold, fo diftref-
fing to the people themfelves, and offenfive to feve-
rals. The Lord in a little time difcovered unto
me my error and imprudence in this. For after I
had converfed for fometime with the diftrefled, I
found the diftrefs of their minds to be fo great, as
they could not but naturally have fuch effefts upon
their bodies. I inquired at many of them, what they
apprehended and felt in their minds, before they fell
a trembling, cried out, or fainted? They told me,
That they were under dreadful apprehenfions of the
terrible wrath of God, due to them for their fins, ef-
pecially for their ilighting of Jefus Chrift by unbelief.
This view made what was before (hocking eafy *o
me. I looked upon it as the effect of a due regard
to the wrath of God, which finners in a (late of na
ture are under and liable to. I beheld them as ene
mies to the king of glory, falling under him, riding
in his glory and majefty, and making his arrows
marply pierce their hearts. I found alfo, that the
congregation, inftead of being dillurbed with their
outcries, were more diflurbed by carrying them off;
and the people's attention much leilened in hearing
the word. Severals left the place of hearing, and
went, where the diftrefled were, to gaze upon them.
It was alfo a confiderable inconvenience, when there
were no minifters here, to direct and comfort the
diftrefTed, they were left with thefe who could give
hem no afliftance. The number of the awakened
G i

85 K I L S Y T H

•were much diminifhed, and came foon to be very
few. I obferved that fome were awakened, while
they had the diftrefled in their fight, and heard ex
hortations given in the place where they were con*
veened : from this I was perfiiaded, that the. exam*
pie «f others under fpiritual terrors and diftrefs, was
one of the means, the Lord was pleafed to make ufe
of, to bring beholders to confider their own ftate
•and way, and to attend more carefully to what they
heard from the word of God. Several of the awa*
kened told me, that they were brought to a concern
about their fouls, by fuch a reafoning as this within
themfelves, thefe people under fo much diftrefs, are
far from being fo great finners as 1 have been and
am: how ftupid and hard hearted then am I, who
am altogether unconcerned? And if they be afraid
of the wrath of God, I have far greater reafon to be
fo. There appeared to me to be nothing more un-
reafonable in making ufe of the example of the
ciftreffed, to make other fecure finners afraid of fin
and the wrath of God, than there is in the law, pu-
nifhing crimes publicly to make others afraid to
commit them. I was alfo convinced, that it was
finful in me to wiih or defire, that the infinitely
wife and fovereign Lord, ihould order his own work
In an other way than what pleafed himfelf. There
•were alfo fome brethren, who did not think the way,
I had taken to remove the diftrefled, to be the beft;
and therefore, after fome weeks trial, I altered it:
I am now of opinion, after all that I have feen and
experienced, relating to this work, that it is beft to
leave the diftrefled to their liberty, and in the con-r
gregation, if they incline, until it be difmified. No
mean, providence puts in our hand, is to be omit
ted, that hath a tendency to awaken fecure finners.
I received a beautiful letter from a gentlewoman,
at fome miles diftance from London, relating to this
part of my method; {he had feen a letter of

NARRATIVE. 87

printed at London, wherein 1 declared my refolution
to remove the diitrefled out of the congregation. This
occafioned her writing to me. It came to my hand
after I changed the fore fa id way. This appears to
me to be the mod proper place to infert this fine
letter, which I am perfuaded will be entertaining
to my readers.

Grtat-Granfden) near Caxtsn, Huntingdon JJjire,

July i \thy 1742.

Rev. S/V,

f T Beg you will pardon my boldnefs in giving you

* •*• the trouble of a line from me. The occafion

* is this: I read the laft week, with very great de-

* light, (in the Weekly Hiftory of the progrefs of
' the gofpel, printed at London,) the account of
' God's wonderful work in the converfion of fouls,
t which your eyes have feen of late. Andalfo, with
' concern, did I read the account of your care to

* guard againft. obj regions, by removing the wounded

* that could not forbear crying, unto your barn; and

* refolving to have a fermon but once a week. And
4 though a deep fenfe of my own littlenefs, vilenefs
4 and unworthinefs, forbid me to take any notice

* hereof unto you ; yet am I encouraged hereto, in

* as much as the fuperior members in Chrift's body,

* cannot fay to the inferior, no not to the meaneft

* of all, I have no need of thee. Let me intreat you

* therefore, to put a favourable conftruftion upon

* this freedom, that a ftranger ufeth with you. A
'ftranger, did I fay? So I am Sir, as being un-
( known in the flefh. But, blefled be God, we that

* were fometimes afar off, are made nigh to God,
c and to each other, by the blood of Chrift. Being

88 K I L S Y T H

* then in this refpecl, no more flrangers and fo-
' veigners, but fellow citizens with the faints, and
< of the houihold of God; permit me, though in

* another room, to have a little paper converfe with

* you, about our Lord's family a flairs.

< Dear Sir, The triumphs of the Redeemer, the

* once (lain, but now reigning Lamb, in the con-

* quefts of his love and power over his redeemed
' ones, that are ftout hearted and far from righte-

* oufnefs, are exceeding delightful to all that love

* him. They cannot but fay, Ride profperoully

* upon the word of truth! Worthy is the Lamb!

* And Let the whole earth be filled with his glory !

* Amen, and amen. My foul rejoiceth with poor

* Scotland, for the Lord's loving kindnefs towards

* you, and that the fame happy work which was
4 begun when the dear Mr. Whitefield was with

* you laft, being carried on by others of the fer-

* vants of our precious Lord, increafeth, and reach-

* eth even as far as unto you. Oh Sir> I doubt

* not, but, filled with wonder, you often fay, Whence

* is it, that my Lord Jhculd come to me! That he Jbould

* thus vifit us! Indeed Sir, it is a wonder of God's
*' free, foverdgn grace; that is snd will be juftly

* the matter of your prefent and eternal adoration.

* Our Lord's voice to you is, Rejoice greatly, 0 daugh-
4 ter of Ziori, for /<?, / ccme> and 'will dive II in the
< midjl of thee. Oh, may Zion's King reign and

* prcfpev! May he be feen among you, in his glory

* and majefty! And may thoufands of ftout hearted

* fmners, become his willing people in the day of

* 3ns power! When Chrift brings in his other flieep,

* his doves in flocks to their windows; -this is a v/ork,

* that fills heaven and earth, God, angels and faints

* with joy, a work that fills the world with wonder,

* and wicked men and devils with envy, rage and

* contempt. But yet it is a work, in which the

* glory and majefty of the Godhead fhines! And

NARRATIVE. 89

5 though the united powers of darknefs, though earth
1 ;;iid heil combine againft it, they (hall never pre-

* vail. For God has fet his King upon his holy hill
' of 2Lion : and reign he muft, until all his people

* are laved to the uttermoft, and all his foes made
' his footitool. Amen* Hallelujah!

* Since then, my dear brother, the King of glory,
4 the Prince of grace, hath blefled you; not only
4 with the hearing of the coining of his kingdom, but

* alfo with the fight of its majeity and glory, let ine
4 humbly intreat you, to beware that you do not

* difpleaie him. I fear your removing the wounded by
' his arrows, (as he rides on his throne) into a corner
' will do it, and provoke him to depart from you.
' If the King of glory, defcends in his majefty among
4 you, and ftrikes fecure finners with the terrors of

* his wrath, whereby they are made, from a felt

* fenfe of their perifhing condition, to cry out,

* What mufl we do to be faved? Why muft thefe tro-
' phies of his victory be removed out of the aflem-
4 bly? This cry is what was common in the apoftlcs
' time, and no doubt will be fo again, and much
4 more abundant, as the glory of the latter day ap-
' proacheth. If it is the Lord's pleafure to work this
4 way, let us with joy adore his wifdom herein, and

* not be afliamed of it, or as if we were endeavour-

* ing to hide it from the wondering multitude. No,

* though fome Ihould contradict and blafpheme.
' Our Lord's work is honourable and glorious, and

* the joy of his friends, however defpicable and hate-,
ful it may be to his enemies. Chrift will plead
his own caufe; and nvifdom is juftified of her children.
And there is no end, nor can be any good fruit,
of feeking to obviate the objections of an ungodly
world, and the company of carnal, worldly profef-
fors. Their cavils will be innumerable. Like
thofe of the Pharifees of old; whofe prejudice was*
unconquerable, by all the evidence of divine power*

90 K I L S Y T H

4 which was difplayed in our Lord's miracles: for
' ftill they had, and thefe will have, fomething or

* other to carp at. Therefore let us, that love the

* Lord Jtfus, rejoice to fee him work in his own way,
f although, by the power of his word, he wounds

* finners fo deeply, as to force from them a very grie-

* vous cry in the open congregation. Our dear Lord
' may have a fourfold defign herein; Firfl> The difplay
' of his omnipotent power, in conquering the (tout-
' hearted, to the glory of his name, and the joy of

* his children. Secondly^ The awakening of others
( of his chofen, yet dead in fin. Thirdly, The hid-

* ing the irifide glory of his work, by the meannefs
( of its outward appearance, from the carnal eye,

* and the leaving thofe his implacable enemies, who '

* have finned againit the light, to be judicially blind-
c ed; and fo to fill up the meafure of their fin, in
c defpifing and oppofing his work, and thereby to

* fit themfelves for their righteous condemnation at

* the great day. Fourthly > The bearing witnefs before

* all, even the moil hardened finners, of the mifery
( of all men by fin, and the forelhewing to them, as

* in a fpecimen, the terrors of that day, when he

* will come in the clouds, and every eye (hall fee
c him, and all the kindreds of the earth fhall wail
6 becaufe of him. And if thefe things, Sir, mould be
« intended, I humbly think, it is mod wifdom not
4 to remove the wounded into a corner, and thereby
4 hide the work of the Lord, when he thus makes

* bare his arm. And that fo to do will difpleafe
6 him.

* And as the diftrefied fouls are numerous, and
e their diftrefs, their fears of eternal death, fo great:
c I humbly conceive, that there is an extraordinary
c call for the preaching of the gofpel, the words of
' this life, in order to relieve and comfort them, to
c draw them on to believe in Jefus, to their prefent
€ joy, and everlafling falvation.

NARRATIVE. 91

* Oh, dear Sir, Be not afraid to preach (Thrift's

* gofpel, nor to let it be preached, to periihing fm-

* ners, if it was poflible, from morning to evening,

* in feafon and out of feafoir, there can corne no

* bad confequences of that. Proclaim the glory
' of Chrift's perfon, the fulnefs and freenefs of his

* ialvation, his almightinefs, and willingnefs to fave
4 Tinners to the uttermoft; that fo the wounded may

* be healed, and the diftrefled fet their hope in God.

* To deal with thefe fouls in private, for inftru£tion

* and confolatien, whom the Lord hath converted in

* public, 1 humbly think is not to follow the Lord in

* the way which he goes before you. Thus, Sir,
' having freely imparted my thoughts, I leave them
« entirely unto the Lord, and defire he may direct

* you to aft as (hall be mod for his glory. Wiihing

* all profperity, and requefting your prayers/

Dear Sir, &c.

As to preaching the word of God upon work
days, I reiblved at firft only to have it upon the
Wednefday, which we accordingly had. Some days
we had three fermons, fometimes two, and at other
times one, as the Lord provided inftruments. Thus
we continued for tome weeks; I obferved an un
common earned inclination in the people of all forts
to hear the xvord of God, I could not reafonably
think that this would laft long, and therefore I
thought myfelf warranted, from the example of our
Lord Jefus Chrift, to have the word more frequently
preached to them, while they were fo prefling and
eager to attend unto it. What determined me fur
ther to this was, that the fv/ord of the Spirit was at
no time now unfiieathed, but fome were cut to the
quick by it: as alfo where weekly fermons were not
iet up, or but feldom kept, the people were awakened

9z K I L S Y T H

in other congregations, and this good work went bu
ilowly on. I therefore embraced every opportunit]
of ftranger miniiters coming to the place, to giv(
fcrmon to the people; and that they who needed ra
ther a bridle than a. fpur in hearing, might not bt
hindered in their neceffary worldly affairs, thefe fer-
mons were ordinarily in the evening, when the day's
work was near an end. Thefe o ;cafional fermons
were never without fome gooc fruit in awakening
iecure fmners, and alfo in comforting rome who had
been formerly awakened. I have never heard, to
this day, of any parents or mafters in this congrega
tion, who complained that their children or fervants
were drawn away from their duty by tbefe means.
Yea, this very day, I made inquiry at forue hufband-
men, living in different parts of the parifh, if now,
v/hen harvefl was begun, they obferved any part of
the work and labour in the pariih undone, or farther
behind, through the frequent attendance upon public
ordinances, or by the means of the many awakened
and fpiritually diftrefled in the congregation? They
replied, that there was no fuch thing to be feen ; as
alfo, that they had heard the pooreft fay, that their
work went better on than ordinary, and that they
found not any lack. They obferved alfo, that their
hay harveft, which is a confiderable labour in this
parifh, was got a third part of time fooner over than
ordinary, and noticed the fingular goodncfs of God
therein.

I received a letter, about the beginning of this
work, wrote with great good fcnfe and piety, which
contributed much to my having fermon more fre
quently than I had defigned at iirft, taking great care
at the fame time, that fecond table duties mould not
be negle&ed or hindered. I (hall not grudge to
copy a good part of the forefaid letter.

NARRATIVE. 93

May 22 J> 1742-

T

wy far Friend,

Return you my hearty thanks for your mo ft ac
ceptable letter of the 2 (/, which I got this
morning. I have looked on the affair of Cambuf-
lang, from the beginning, as a very glorious work
of God, ana my daily prayer about it, has been, that
the remarkable down-pouring of the Holy Ghoft
there, might, like the cloud, like the man's hand,
quickly overfpread the whole hemifphere. We muit
reckon upon it, that where the Lord Chriit is, in fo
glorious a manner, making conquefls, Satan will be
at xvork tooj that bufy, active, malicious fpirit will
be doing all he can to difpraife the work of God,
and furnilh the wicked, and the lukewarm, with
fomething to fay againft it; too great care therefore
cannot be taken to avert reproach and calumny.
Yet at the fame time, the fear of man, mud riot be
fo far given way to, as to determine you to leave any
thing undone which may forward the good work.
If it was a ground of peoples cavilling at Cambuflang,.
that they had fermon every day, and thereby firit
table duties juflled with the fecond, it poffibly may
be going too far on the other fide, to have but one
fermon-day with you in the week, while tie wind'
blow! fair* crowd on all the Jail you can; "but I hope
the Lord whbfe work it is, will direct you to what
is bed - 1 have fent it to - And fome more
fuch, who will in fecrer, in private, and in public,
blefs Zion's God for thefe glorious dreams, unex-
pc-aedly and iurprifingly pom ing out on fpcts of his
vineyard, and join in cries to him, not to ftop till he
has watered all the garden.

The account of the Cambuflan.£ affair, iaft pu-
blifhed, I think, is put together with great difcretion,
and gives no handle to the enemies of religion to
work upon. If no advantage is given them, and

94 K I L S Y T H

they will, notwithflanding, fall on the head corner-
(tone, 'tis their own fault.

I hope the work with you will continue, and that
you will, from time to time, lay hold of a few mo-
mentS) to be as good^as your word, in giving me an
account of its progrefs.— ^1 offer my refpefts to good
Mr. M'Laurin, may much of God be with you and
him, and all the lovers, all the helpers forward of
the work of our dear Redeemer. I am mod affec
tionately," &c.

As to the doctrines I preached in the congregation^
or elfewhere, they were a. mixture of the law and the
gofpel, as much as poffible in the fame fermon, and
I obferved fuch compofures moft blefled of God.
The formerly converted, and the awakened who had
made progrefs, I perceived were moil affected with
the fweet truths of the gofpel. I have feen the con
gregation in tears, and crying out, when the law of
grace from mount Zion, without any exprefs mixture
of the terrors of the law, was preached. 'Tis true in*
deed, feveral of the awakened, have had their fpiritual
diflrefs increafed thereby, as alfo fome of the fecure
have been awakened, but then it was from their be
ing convinced, that they had as yet no intereft in
thefe glorious bleiTings, and fo were miferable, and
that it would be the word part of their eternal mi-
fery to be deprived of them! And thus it was as
terrible to them, to hear heaven preached of as hell,
feeing they faw themfelves (hut out from it by their
unbelief. I obferved that the far greateft part of
every public audience were fecure, unconcerned and
fearlefs, and therefore I preached the terrors of the
law, in the ftrongeft terms I could, that is to fay, in
exprefs fcripture terms. I feared to daub or deal
flightly with them, but told great and fmall, that
they were the children of the devil, while they were
in the ftate of unbelief, and that if they continued fo
to the end, in our Lord's plain terms, they would be

NARRATIVE. 9;

damned. I refolved that I would cry aloud, and not
fpare, and preach with that ferioufnefs and fervour,
as one that knew that my hearers muft either be
prevailed with, or be damned; and that they might
difcern I was in good fadnefs with them, and really
meant as I fpoke. And left any fhould zfcribe the
effecl of theie fermons, merely unto the fubjeft, I
obferved to my hearers frequently, that they had
heard all thefe truths preached unto them oft with
as great keennefs, without any fuch vifible efFect. I
can inftance and ihow fermons 1 have preached many
years ago, containing the terrors of the law, with
out known fucceis, and which I have preached now
again, in weaker terms, bieffed with great fuccefs;
fo that all might fee that it is not from man, but the
Spirit of the Lord, that there is fo great a difference
as to efficacy.

I looked up and faw, what I never faw before, the
fields already ripe unto harveft. I heard the Lord
of the harveft, commanding me to put in my fickle
and reap; I confidered that I had now an opportu
nity put in my hand, that was not to laft long, the
harveft being the fhorteft time of labour in the whole
year. And therefore I refolved to beftir myfelf and
attend wholly to this very thing. I looked upon my
pulpit-work, though great, but a fmall part of my
tafk. I knew that feveral of the awakened were ig
norant, that all of them needed particular direc
tion, inftruclion, and corifolation, under their (harp
conviclions, and wanted much, under the conduct
of the holy Spirit, a fpiritual guide to direct them
to faith in Jefus Chrift, to which they were (hut up.
I appointed therefore, Monday's, Tuefday's, Thurf-
day's, and Friday's, for the awakened and fpiritually
diftrefTed, to come to me for the forefaid purpofes.
Which they did affiduoufly and diligently, from
morning to night. The fame perfons fometimes
coming to me not only twice, which was ordinary.

.

£6 K I L S Y T H

but oftener in a week: yea, even upon Saturday
which I often grudged, but durft not fend them
away, who had come at fome diftance, without con-
verfing with them. At this time I could not allow
myfelf to be diverted from this attendance by any
vifitants coming to my houfe, minifters or others.
I was alfo greatly aflifted by fome minifters and
preachers who flayed with me for fome time. Par
ticularly at the beginning of this work, Mr. Young,
preacher of the gofpel, who had been much at Cam-
buflang, and had great experience and fkill in deal
ing with the diftreft, was greatly helpful to me. But
of all others the Rev. Mr. Thomas GillefpLe, mi-
nifler of the gofpel at Carttock, was moil remarka
bly God's fend to me. He came to me upon the
Monday before the Lord's fupper was given in the
congregation, and flayed ten days. Both of us had
as much work among the diflreft as kept us conti
nually employed, from morning to night, and with
out him, it would have been impoflible for me to
have managed the work of that week. Without fuch
dealings with them, humanly fpeaking, many of
them muft have mifcarried, or continued much
longer under their fpiritual diftrefs. It is very true,
God will devife means to bring home his bammed, as
I have feen. But where there are minifters, thefe
are the outward means, if people in diflrefs will not
ufe them, they themfelves are to blame, and they
cannot expect a defirable out-gate; and if we will
not apply ourfclves diligently to the care of diftreffed
fouls, willing to make ufe of us, the Lord will pro
vide without us, that his own eleft fliall not mif-
carry, but wo will be to us: their blood, as well
as thofe who fliall mifcarry, will be required at our
hands.

I was not without temptations to flacken my hand,
both my own mind, and others who wifhed me
well, faid, fpare thyfelf. I was afraid my body

NARRATIVE. 97

would not ftand through, and others told me, I
ihould take care of my health; but when I confi-
dered my natural temper, that it muft be employed
fome how, and that I fpent near as much time in
reading, i thought, I could fufFer no more by this
application, and had not fo much to fear from it,
as from any other conftant fedentary employment.
But mod of all, I was influenced from the confide-
ration of the Lord's call to this fervice, that my
time, health and life were in his hand, that I had
dedicated all to his fervice and glory, that he had
promifed needful ftrength, that he would preferve
my health and life fo long as he had ufe for them,
and that it would be highly unreafonable for me to
defire it longer, I refolved not to fpare myfelf. It
became foon the pleafanteft work ever I was engaged
in. I found the diftreft profiting under the means ,
of grace, by the Lord's blefling, firil coming to hate
fin, and mourn for it, out of a regard to God, and
preffing after an intereft in the Lord Jefus Chrid. It
diverted me to fee young and old, carrying their bibles
with them, and either reading fome paffage, that
had been of ufe to them, or looking out and marking
fome paffage I recommended to them. The world
appeared changed to me, and as I noticed to them,
when I came to their doors to catechife them, once
or twice in the year, the leaft trifle hindered their
attendance, but now they were glad to come twice
or thrice a week, and greedy to receive initruction,
and what cold foul would not have rejoiced at fuch
a change, and welcomed them in the name of the
Lord. Though I was wearied when I went to bed,
yet, like the labouring man, my reft was fweet to me.
The Lord gave me the fleep of his beloved, and I
was frefh by the morning. And now after labour
ing fo much for near thefe four months, and preach
ing more than at any time for a whole half year,
1 mention it to the praife of my great Matter's good-

98 K I L S Y T H

nefs, my body is like thefe of Daniel, and the three
children, fatter in flefti than when I began, and my
bodily ails no wife increafed. The way of the Lord,
hath been my life and ftrength.

/ /hall fubjoin to this branch a letter I received from
the Rev. Mr. Willifon^ mimjler of the gcfpel at Dundee^
deftrving the reader s perufaL

Dundee, June iqth, 1742.

Rev. and dear Brother,

'( VOUR's to me of the 27th of May laft, did fill
•*• me with wonder and joy, and was moft re-
freftiing to many of the friends of Chrift's kingdom
to whom I (hewed it. O that we could praife him,
and call heaven and earth to praife him, for the
Comforter's continuance at Cambuflang, and for

' his coming fo many miles on this fide of Glafgow,
in the fame way as to Cambuflang, as your letter
bears; bleffed be his name, for vifiting fo many
parifhes at once, and Kilfyth, in fuch a wonderful
manner, making your congregation to mourn toge-

' ther as for an only fon, fo as to find you work
daily from morning to night, in dealing with fouls,

* diftreiTed with a fenfe of fin and mifery, while with-
f out Chrift. Blefled be his glorious name, for doing

* fuch wonderful things for you and your people,
6 and for giving you extraordinary ftrength and vi-
' gour, both in body and mind, to fit you for the

* extraordinary fervice he is calling you to, and to
' make you delight in it, as the moft pleafant work
c ever you was engaged in. I defire to praife the
< Lord for putting fuch high honour upon you and
c your brethren in your country, and alfo to pray,

* as I can, for a more plentiful effufion upon you,

* till it arrive to a flood which may overflow the

NARRATIVE. 99

e whole land; furely we in this part of Scotland need
1 it as much as any place I know, ah! Our ground
f is very dry, but blefled be God the mower feems
< to point Northward. We have a great number of

* young people in this place who have changed their
( way, are in love with fermons, and join in focieties
' for prayer, for religious conference, repeating fer-
( mons, and parts of the Bible, and are growing
' much in knowledge, &c. But alas; their con-

* viclions for fin do not appear to be deep enough,
' nor the work on their fpirits to be fo thorough as
' I obfcrved at Cambuflang. Yet I defire to wait

* and pray, and to be remembered by you and your
1 people at the mercy feat; and alfo to be thankful
1 for our day of fmall things. Though our begin-
' nings be but fmall, yet, by the divine bleffing, our
c latter end may greatly increafe, if we could but
' believe, wreftle and pray in hope. I would fain
' hope that thefe are but droppings before the fliow-
' er, which God is defigning for Scotland, and that
c the time to favour his Zion in it is near at hand.
' Elijah's little cloud is fpreading, and there is the
' found of abundance of rain. Surely after what we
' have feen already, we need defpair of nothing.
' If a fpirit of faith and prayer were poured out, we
' might hope the blefled work would fpread, and
' go through the breadth arid length of the land,

* which would heal our woful breaches, and make

* us glad, according to the days wherein he hath
c afflicted us, and the years wherein we have feen

c evil. Mr. writes me a very diftindt

« account of the progrefs of the work about him,

* namely in the Barony, Bothwel, and of fome hope-

* ful beginnings at Kilmarnock and Irvine; and alfo

* promifes to fend me the journal of that perfon you

* fpeak of, who hath got relief by faith in Jefus, as
' foon as printed in the Weekly Hiftory, for which
' I will be much obliged to him. I am perfuaded

H 2

ioo K I L S Y T H

' the printing fuch accounts will be moft ufeful and

* edifying to many. I intreat you to urge Mr.

1 to go on in publifhing other cafes of that fort.

* Some minifters here are propofmg to keep paro-
' chial thankfgiving days for the good news you and
' others are fending us. I am to aflift at one in
' Strickmartine, Wednefday next, a neighbouring

* parifh; furely it is a kindly way of fupplicating

* God for the like bleffings, I intreat you may pray

* for poor Dundee, and our parched (hire of Angus.

* May the Lord ftrengthen you more and more in
' his fervice, and make you go on in it with great joy
c and fuccefs.'

I am>

Your Brother y and fervant
in our Lordy
I. WILL1SON.

€ P. S. Oblige me by writing frequently, and fend
* the inclofed to Mr. .*

After fermon, thefe who were awakened that day
were conveened in my barn. Sometimes they were
fpoke to altogether, either by myfelf or fome other
minifter, if any happened to be with us; as alfo, we
prayed with them. This, as was obferved already,
had frequently effeft upon the by-ftanders by the
blefling of God; fome being awakened by feeing the
diftreft, and hearing the exhortations given in the
barn. At other times when I could not attend upon
this, and there were no other minifters, fome of the
elders were fent to pray, and fmg pfalms with them.

They were then brought by the elders unto me,
into my clofet, one by one, and if there were many,

NARRATIVE. 101

two or three at a time. If they were able to give an
account of themfelves, I inquired when they came
firft to be fo deeply concerned about the ftate of
their fouls? What was the occafibn of it ? And what
they had heard that made the firft impreflion upon
them ? After which I gave them fome general exhor
tations, and directions, fuitable to their particular
cafe appearing to me, as the Lord was pleafed to
help.

The general exhortations and directions I gave
them; were to be very thankful to God, and blefs
him who had fent his Holy Spirit to convince them
of fin, becaufe they believed not upon Chrift, and
to make them fenfible of their loft ftate, that they
might be delivered; to entertain a conftant fear, leaft
their conviclions and uneafy fenfe of their fin and
danger, mould go off without converfion, and com
ing to Chrift by faith; feeing this had befallen many,
who had been under greater and longer diftrefs than
many of them yet were ; and that if this happened to
them, tjieir cafe would be worfe, and more danger
ous than it was before. And therefore they ihould
take good heed, that they refift not the conviclions
of the Spirit, but liften to them, and admit them to
take pofleflion of their foul; that they need not be
overwhelmed, for how great foever their fins were,
if they would repent and believe upon the Lord
Jefus Chrift, God promifed to have mercy upon
them, and fave them; and that they muft not be too
impatient for comfort, nor too hafty to catch it, but
that they muft ftay God's leifure, and wait upon him
patiently in a diligent ufe of means for a good iflue.
I prayed with them, and fo difmified them; without
being more particular with them for the firft time.
Several of them, through the greatnefs of their an-
guifh, not being able even to attend to fuch (hort
and general directions. I recommended it to ftran-
gers, to apply frequently to their own minifters for
H3

io2 K I L S Y T H

iriftrucUon, and direction under their fpiritual dif-
trefs, hoping that there would be no minifter, who
would not make them welcome, inftrudl and direct
them to Jefus Chrift, wherever they were awakened,
I endeavoured yet to perfuade myfelf that the jea-
loufy fome of the diftreft entertain of a bad recep
tion is groundlefs ; it were to be wiihed that minifters
who hear of any fuch in their congregation, would
inquire after them, defire them to come to them
from time to time, and hereby convince them that
their jealoufies are groundlefs, that they compaf-
iionate their cafe, and are ready to afiift them, under
the pangs of the new-birth, that they may not mif-
carry. Nothing fo tender as an afflicted confcience;
thefe who have it mud be terfderly dealt and born
with. Let us all who are called to the holy mini-
ftry, often think upon, Ezek. xxxiv. 4.

As to the method of my after-dealing with the
awakened, as they came to me from time to time;
this cannot be well narrated without giving an ac
count of the progrefs of the work of conviction upon
them, and therefore I (hall refer it to that article.

I have kept a book, wherein, from day to day, I
wrote down, whatever was mod material in the ex-
ercifes of the diftreft. This may appear an unfup-
portable labour at firft view, efpecially where the
number of the diftreft are fo many. Yet I found it
to be very eafy, it faved much time to me. An index
I kept, brought me foon to the part of the book,
where the perfons cafe was recorded. I had then a
full view of their cafe, as it was when they were
firft with me. I faw what progrefs their convictions
had made, and knew where I was to begin with
them, without examining their cafe every time from
the very beginning anew, as I would have been
obliged to do: which would have taken, three or
four times, more time than I needed to fpend with
them. It after all gave a full view of their whole

NARRATIVE. 103

cafe when it came to an iflue; and made me more
able to judge of it.

I have laboured to be very cautious in pronoun
cing perfons to be brought out of a ftate of nature
into a (late of grace; I have in many cafes declared
to perfons, that the grounds of eafe and reft they
took up with, were not folid nor good, which fre
quently had a good effecl:. And as to others, that if
their exercifes were fuch as they declared them to
be, that they were really the fcripture qualifications
and experiences of the converted. But of this more
in another Article.

It made all this labour more pleafant to me, that
the Lord, even from the firft week, brought fome
every week to fatisfying relief by faith in the Lord
Jefus. The firft appearance of this filled me with
tears of joy. It was in a girl about twenty, the very
firft week after the i6th of May.

An Abjlrafl of her Cafe is as follows.

She formerly lived, for fome years, in this parifli,
but at this time, in the neighbourhood. She was
brought under fome concern, firft at Cambuflang, by
hearing Luke xi. 21. preached upon. She was
afraid the Lord had pafled her by, when (he faw
others under fpiritual diftrefs. She wondered what
convictions were, when {he heard them fpoken of;
and prayed for them. She was further awakened to
fee her fin and danger at Kilfyth upon the i6th of
May. She returned to me the fame week. I was
greatly pleafed with the progrefs of her convictions,
with her knowledge, and the longing defires me ex-
prefied after Jefus Chrift. I faid to her, fitting by
me, eflay to accept of the Lord Jefus Chrift, beftir
yourfelf, rife up at his call, and invite him to enter
into your foul; without intending, or meaning what
me did. She arofe with great compofure, ftood and
H 4

io4 K I L S Y T H

prayed in a fcripture (tile, and with fuch connec
tion, as no perfon of a public character, needed to
have been aihamed, to have prayed fo, before the
niceft audience. 1 could difcern as much of the fpi-
rit of grace and adoption in it, as any prayer I ever
heard. I could not recover it afterwards; but re-
folved that I would ckfire her to pray the next time
fhe returned. For I looked upon her as having re
ceived the fpirit of faith, though (he continued dif-
confolate. Next week (he returned; and I caufed
her to pray, after I had converfed and prayed with
her. She did it in a fcripture flile, with connection,
and great earneiinefs; acknowledging fin, original
and actual; her utter want of righteoufnefs, and the
wonderfulnefs of God's patience towards her, fhe
prayed for mercy to be drawn to. Jefus Chrift, and
that (he might be cloathed with his white raiment;
that he would fpeak a word in feafon to her weary,
heavy laden and burthened foul; and that he would
give her to come to him, who faith, Come to me, all
ye that are weary and heavy laden, and 1 'will give you
reft; that Satan might have no interefl in her; and
that the Lord would do for her above all (he could
afk, think, or crave; giving glory to him who livtth
find reigneth for ever. Sometimes in her addrefs fhe
faid, Sweet Jefus. She fir ft came to fenfible relief
the next week, in hearing a fermon I preached from
John xvi. 10. In her return home, by herfelf, thefe
words were ftrongly imprefled upon her, my heart is
fixed, O Gody my heart is fixed; 1 ivill ftng and give
praife. She fell down upon her knees, her heart
being filled with joy in the Lord, and her mouth
with his praife. She faid that May i6th, when fhe
was under her greateft diftrefs, the laft verfes of the
xl. of Ifa. came to her remembrance, They that wait
upon the Lord foall renew their Jlrength; they Jlall
mount up 'with wings as eagles, they JJ)all run and not
he weary, they fhall walk and not faint. This gave

NARRATIVE. 105

her fome fupport and encouragement to wait upon
the Lord.

There were fome diforders I could not forefee,
but as foon as they appeared, I was careful to deftroy
them in the bud, and prevent them in time to come.
Many when they faw the great fears and anguifh
thefe awakened upon the 1 6th of May were in, con
cluded, That they were finners above all others, and
that they had been guilty of fome fins more than
ordinary, which came now to give them fo much
uneafinefs. They entertained a notion, that if they
would confefs thefe extraordinary fins, it would give
eafe to their minds, and glorify God. This was
followed with very bad confequences. One was,
that fome, through thefe miftakes, attacked fome of
the awakened under their greateft agonies, and while
they knew not what to do; and exhorted them to
confefs all their fins, and tell them what they had
done that fo vexed them, which might turn to their
eafe. One poor woman who was awakened upon
the i6th of May, but went home without fpeaking
with me, came to be in fuch agonies, as her neigh
bours were obliged to watch with her all night, and
flie being dealt with as above, acknowledged that (lie
had been guilty of adultery, with a man fhe alfo
named. She had been of an evil character for cur-
fing, fcolding, and living ill with her hufband, but
nobody had fufpected her being unchafte. She was
brought to me early next morning. When I heard
the flory it gave me great uneafinefs, but there was
no preventing the fpreading df it, it was reported
through the neighbourhood by the morning light.
I heard alfo of attempts of the fame kind made upon
fome others, but without reproachful confequences.
To prevent this for the time to come, I publicly in-
ftrucled the whole congregation that they were not
bound to confefs their fecret fins to any, but unto
God, unlefs in cafe of his bringing them to light, in

,io6 K I L S Y T H

his providence; or in the cafe of wrong and injur ?
done their neighbours, where reparation or fatisfac *
tion fhould be made, and brotherly forgivenefs fought .
or in cafe of great vexation of mind, and want of ad •
vice for relief about fome particular fin, that the '
fhould do it to fome minifter, or prudent chriftia: i
friend, who would keep it as an inviolable fecret 1 1
the day of judgment: difcharging, at the fame time ,
all to inquire into the fecret fins of their neighbours ,
(hewing unto them the evil of it: and mod of all ,
their blazing abroad the fecret faults of their neigh
hour, when it could tend to no end, but the reproad ;
of their neighbour, and the fcandal and offence o:
others. This warning, by the Lord's blefling, pre
vented any diforder of this fort, for the time to come
There was another evil confequence of this miftake,
that many, though all the firft awakened were oi
blamelefs lives, except the forefaid woman, imagin
ing, that they were troubled for fome uncommon (in,
were thereby hardened againft convictions, whilft
they knew not themfelves to be guilty of any fin
more than ordinary. They never reflected upon the
evil of the lead fin, and upon the dreadful evil of
rejecting Jefus Chrift by unbelief, worfe than the
greateft fin againft the law. Thefe things were ob-
ferved to them in preaching and private conference;
but I am perfuaded, that had no great influence, un
til the Lord was pleafed to awaken feveral of the
young ones, of whom they could have no jealoufy,
that they had been finners above all others. This
ferved effectually to remove the forefaid Humbling
block: and feverals came to reafon the other way,
that if fuch young ones, comparatively innocent,
were brought under fuch deep concern about their
fin and mifery, how much reafon had they to be
affected, let them be ever fo free from grofs fins.

There were fome other diforders, that were like to
arife in this and neighbouring congregations, that

NARRATIVE. 107

were timeoufly noticed, reftified, or prevented: and
the people in this congregation came willingly under
very ftrift and exacY rules for the management of
this affair.

What made me in every thing to ufe the more
caution, was, That I was perfuaded the further pro-
grefs this blefled work fhould make, the greater op-
pofition would be made to it; and the more Chriit
ihould triumph, the more Satan would rage, which
I now fee come to pafs. For Satan feemcd to be
aftonifhed with the firft appearance at Cambuflang,
fo as not to know well by what methods to oppofe
it, but now recovers, arid rallies all his forces to
make head. The Seceders made the mod opposition
at the firft, and that even in a fainter and wavering
way. But now Nullifidians of all forts arc making
head, fuch as Arians, who deny the fupreme Deity
of our Lord and Saviour, and the fatisfa&ion he hath
given to the juftice of God for ele£l finners; Armi-
nians, who have never been friendly to the fcripture
doctrine of juftification by faith alone, without the
works of the law^ and of the finner's regeneration
and converfion by the fupernatural power of the
Holy Ghoft. And laft of all, thefe who cry up
morality without the faith and hope of the gofpel,
and that love to God, that is ingendered by it; and
fo out of a fondnefs for Pagan ethics, and Philofo-
phic inftitutions, defy our holy religion. There are
ftrong prefumptions, the anonymous pamphlets fo
thick now flying, are from thefe forts. And no
wonder, for the progrefs of this work threatens
(hame and deftru&ion to all their darling principles
and practices.

Milton's beautiful reprefentation of Satan lying
ftounded and thoughtlefs, by his forced fall from
heaven, upon the burning lake for a while, but re
covering thought and contrivance ^ calling and rally
ing his forces to fight againft heaven, ilrikes my

io8 K I L S Y T H

mind as expreflive of this. And with them I fhal
conclude this Article.

He introduceth Satan recovered from his furprife
thus befpeaking Beelzebub.

But 'wherefore let we then our faithful friends ,
The officiates and copartners of our lofs
Lie thus aftoniJJjf on the oblivious flood.
And call them not to Jhare with us their part
In this unhappy man/ion, or once more,
With rallied arms, to try what may be yet
Regained in heaven, or what more lojl in hell.

To whom Beelzebub anfwers,

They willfoon rcfume

New courage and revive, though now they lie
Grovelling and projlrate on yon lake of fire
As we ere 'while, aftounded and amazed,
No wonder, fallen fuch a pernicious height.

ARTICLE II.

Concerning the Fruitst of this Difpenfation, which are
general as to the Body of the People.

HPHE fruits of this remarkable out-pouring of the
Holy Spirit, are either general, extending unto
the body of the people, or more particular, the
awakening of many to an uneafy fight of their fin
and danger, the converfion of fome of thefe who

NARRATIVE. , 109

were vifibly awakened, the hopeful condition of
fome others of the awakened, and the reviving and
attainments of former good chriftians.

The firft of thefe is the fubjeft of this Article.
Among the inftances of the good fruits of this work
upon the generality of the people, are the vifible re
formation from many open fins in their lives: par
ticularly curfing, fwearing, and minced o?.ths, too
frequent, are laid afide. Drinking to excefs, is either
forborn or much difcountenanced. In public occa-
(ional meetings, edifying difcourfe hath taken the
place of frothy, foolim, cenforious, or otherwife evil
fpeaking. Inftead of worldly and common difcourfe
upon the Lord's day, there is that which is fpiritual,
and good to the ufe of edifying. There is little of
fitting idle at their doors, and (trolling in the (treets
profanely upon the Lord's day, which was too com
mon formerly in the town of Kilfyth. There is a
general defire after public ordinances, and whereas
before this, I never could prevail with the beft, to
attend the preaching of the word upon work days,
and therefore could have no ftated weekly day for
this, they now defire it, and the generality of the
people frequent it as regularly as upon die Lord's
day. The worfhip of Gcd is fet up, and daily kept
up in many families, who were known entirely to
neglect it aforetime. There are many focieties e-
redled for prayer in the parilh, both of old and
young, and thefe not only of perfons who have been
awakened at this time, but of others. Former feuds
and animofities are in a great meafure laid afide and
forgot. And this hath been the mod peaceable furn-
mer amongft neighbours that was ever known 'in
thefe bounds. I have heard little or nothing of that
pilfering and dealing that was become fo frequent
and uneafy before this work began. Yea, there have
been feveral inftances of reftitution, and fome of
thefe (hewing confciences more than ordinary ten-

no K I L S Y T H

der. The change of the face of our public meeting;
for worfhip, is vifible; there were never fuch atten
tion and ferioufnefs to be feen in them as now. Th<
change of the lives of the generality to the better, is
obferved by every body who knew the place. On<
obferving perfon in the congregation, faid lately tc
me, That he was fure, if there was no more, there
was more morality among them. It is ftrange thai
forne, who make fo much noife about moralityj
fliould be fuch enemies to a work which hath pro
duced fo much of it in the lives of a whole country-
fide.

I fubjoin to this Article an Atteftation to the prin
cipal facts contained therein, drawn up and fubfcrib-
ed by the elders and deacons of the kirk-feflion, and
fome heritors of the parim, who have accefs to ob-
ferve the daily conversation of the people.

ATTESTATION
By Heritors, Elders, and the Bailie of Kilfyth.

Rev Sir,

TN compliance with your defire to know what re*
•*- markable reformation, and change we obferve,
and fee upon the outward behaviour, lives and con-
verfations of the people of this parilh, we obferve,
that whereas the profaning of the holy Sabbath by
idle difcourfe, walking abroad in companies, and fit
ting about doors, were the ordinary practice of
numbers in and about the town of Kilfyth: we now
fee not only this abandoned, but inflead thereof, the

NARRATIVE. j 1 1

>rivate and fecret duties of prayer praclifed, and fpi-
itual and religious converfation prevailing upon all
>ccafions; efpecially in corning and going to and
rom the public ordinances, and further, that the
>rdinary and habitual practice of curfmg, fwearing,
irinking to excefs, fteaiing, cheating, and defraud-
ng, and all grofs immoralities, are generally refrain-
id, and feverals that were ordinarily guilty of fuch
:rimes, now deteft and abhor the fame. Alfo, ma-
ice, envy, hatred, ftrife, contention, and revenge*
are fo much decreafed, that we have had few or no
:nftances thereof this fummer. But on the contrary,
love, peace, forgiving of injuries, and a charitable
:hriftian temper, and difpofition of mind, now pre
vails among feverals of thofe, who have been moil
frequently overcome, by thofe unruly paiiions.

There are alfo numbers of people, who have either
wholly or ordinarily neglected family worfhip, that
now ordinarily praclife it, and have more than or
dinary concern for the glory of God, and the good
of their ov/n fouls.

There are not only a good many focieties for
prayer both of young ones, and alfo of thofe of riper
years fet up of late; but alfo feverals ufing endea
vours, and defirous to be admitted, whom formerly
no arguments could prevail with, to join in fuch re
ligious and neceflary duties, and many are obferved
now, frequently retiring to private places, for fecret
prayer upon the Sabbath-days, in the interval of
public worfliip.

The obfcene, idle, wicked converfation of our fer-
vants and daily-labourers, are now much abandoned
and forfaken, ferious, edifying, religious chriftian
difcourfe much praclifed, which ufed to be much
neglected, efpecially now in harveft-time: written
by Mr. John Buchanan, feffion-clerk, and fubfcribed
by the following elders at Kilfyth, the 5th day of

112

K I L S Y T H

September, 1742. and Hkewife the feveral herito
here prefent, do atteil the truth of the fame.

Robert Graham of Thorn-
rawer.

John Graham of Auchin-
clcch.

Alexander Mar/bull of
Ruchill.

William Patrick tfOIdball.

Walter Kirkivsod.

John Buchanan^ Clerk,

Alexander Patrick , Elder.

James Rennie> Rider.

James Zuill.
Henry Ure, Elder.
John Forrejler) Elder.
John Acbie, Elder.
William Adam, Elder.
Mark Scott.
James Rankin.
James Miller.
John Sword.
Andrew Provan.

Sept. fib, 174;

The above Declaration, fubfcribed at Kilfyth, date
the 5th of September, 1742, by elders and heritors
is Hkewife attefted by me,

JOHN LAPSLIE, Eldei

Sept. 8//->, 1742

I Alexander Forreiler, Bailie-depute of Kilfyth
do hereby certify, that fo much of the fpirit of mild-
nefs and friendfhip, prevails anioiigft the people ir
this place, that there hath been no pleas before oui
court for thefe feveral months pail: whereas formerly
a great many \vere brought before me every week.

ALEXANDER FORRESTER.

NARRATIVE. 113

ARTICLE III.

Concerning thofe ivko have been awakened^ and appear
mtu to be converted in afilent and unobferved manner t
far fame months paft.

rHE firft general diftinftion of the awakened for
fome months pad in this congregation, is, into
hofe who have been brought into a deep concern
,bout the ftate of their fouls, without being known
>r obferved by others, until they attained fuch relief
is gives ground to judg£ it folid and fcriptural, and
hofe whofe concern and awakening was notour, and
>bferved by all who faw them from its fenfible effects
ipon them.

The firil fort belong to this Article. Some have
leclared, their greateft diiratisfa£tion with this work
vas, that the awakened did not conceal, at lead
rom the public, their fpiritual diftrefs, and that fo
•nuch nolle was made about it: arid they would have
^een pleated with inftances of a work of conviction
md converfion carried on in a calm, filent and quiet
nanner. In all this they have the fatisfaftion they
iemand, and at the fame time an evidence of more
:han an ordinary out-pouring of the Holy Spirit,
therewith they fhould alfo be fatisfied, feeing that
the inftances are more numerous thefe fix months
pafl, than they have been for as many years before,
.is far as I can judge; and thefe inftances of conver
fion more unqueftionable.

Blefled be the God of peace, and of all grace,
there are not a few in this congregation, known to
me at this time, who have, within thefe fix months,
Seen awakened to a ferious concern about their foul's

I

ii4 K I L S Y T H

falvation, brought under a deep work of humiliation
and appear, as far as I am able to judge, to be con
verted -, and yet their fpiritual diftrefs and exercifes,
while they were under them, were not known tc
me, or to any elfe, as to fome of them, and as tc
others, only to fome very intimate and near friend,
I had occafion to converfe with fome of them before
the giving of the Lord's fupper in the congregation,
in the month of July laft. Others I have called for,
and inquired into the ftate of their fouls, and their
experiences. And fome have given me an account
of themfelves in writing, whom I have alfo inquired
after, and converfed clofely with. And I hope there
are a confiderably greater number, upon whom the
Lord is carrying on a good work of grace, in this
(till and unobferved manner. The general concern
there is in hearing the word of God, and diligence
in the ufe of means, joined with outward reforma
tion, give great ground to hope this.

Thefe with whom I have converfed of this fort,
have had convictions, fears, diftrefies, and exercife
of the fame kind with thofe whofe diftrefles have
been manifefted openly, and their experiences, as to
an efcape by grace, have been much alike.

I {hall infert the account fome of thefe gave me of
themfelves in this Article, and leave it to the reader
to judge for himfelf.

The firft inftance is contained in the fecond print
ed Journal from Kilfyth, which is as follows.

C. D. ' Came firft under convictions, which made
' him uneafy, upon the firft Sabbath of March laft,
' by hearing the work of regeneration preached, as
f it is the writing of God's law upon the'finner's
' heart, from Heb. viii. 10. He was made to fee
' that it was not as yet written upon his heart, and
' the abfolute neceflity of having it. At night his
c landlady and he difcourfed of God's railing the

NARRATIVE. 115

* dead at the laft day, and the general judgment
c then to be. The eonfideration of thefe, and of the
« dreadful fad eftate which the wicked (hall be in,

* made further deep impreflions upon him. He fays,
' That he found every fermori he heard make thefe
' imprefiions deeper; and that he was much difpleafed
' with himfelf, that his concern and anxiety about
' his fpiritual and eternal ftate was not greater. Up-
' on the laft Sabbath of April his convictions, and

* thereby his diftrefs, came to a great height, from
' his hearing of a woman who was that day awaken-
' ed, and brought to my houfe in great diftrefs.

' He told me, that he could apply to himfelf, the
c moft part of a fermon, he heard from me upon the
' i pth of May laft, concerning the Spirit's convincing

* the world of fin; fuch as, that he ufually begins

* with one fin, and carrieth it on to ^ conviction of

* particular fins: which, he fays, he could name par-

* ticularly before the Lord: and that further, he was
( convinced of bofom fins, and of the evil nature of

* fin; and that he was not fo much affrighted with
' the terror of hell, as he was afflicted for offending
' a holy God. And that further, he got fuch a fight
c of the filthinefs of fin, as to lothe himfelf becaufe
' of it. That he was alfo convinced of the evil of

* unbelief, of the firft motions of fin, and the finful-

* nefs of them, though not confented to; of felf-con-

* ceit, a fenfe of the evil of which, (luck as long with

* him as any thing elfe, as he terms it. He was alfo
< convinced of his inability to help himfelf, and of

his own want of righteoufnefs, and that he could
never work out righteoufnefs for himfelf. He fays
further, That he was brought to fee the fufficiency
of Chrift and his righteoufnefs, and that he was al
ways ready (which are his own words) if he could
but truft in him.

( Seeing he had told me, that he had never inform-
' ed any perfon of his inward fpiritual diftrefs, until

I 2,

n6 K I L S Y T H

* he got an outgate; I afked him, What it was that
4 keeped up his fpirit under fear, and trouble of mind,

* continuing fo long? He anfwered, That when his

* heart was like to burft in prayer, that word in the
' fortieth Pfalm and firft verfe, came conftantly in
' his mind. I watted patient /y for the Lord, and be in-

* dined unto me, and heard my cry. And that this en-

* couraged him to wait for the Lord, with patience

< and hope.

t His firft relief came after this manner ; In the
c fociety for prayer, to which he had joined himfelf,

* he inquired, What was the mod proper exercife
c for a perfon under convictions? It was anfwered

* unto him by a judicious chriftian, That it was to

* behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the

* (in of the world, which he eflayed to do.

' Upon the Sabbath after that, I gave the marks of

* them who have Chrift formed in them; fuch as
' having the Spirit of Chrift, i John iii. 24. Saving
€ faith, Eph. iii. 17. Devoting and dedicating our-

* felves to the Lord, Rom. vi, 13. Impreflions an-
c fwerable to the mediatory actions of Jefus Chrift,
( Rom vi. 4, 5, 6. Habitual endeavour to imitate

* him, i John ii. 6. Fervent longings after a perfect
' likenefs to him, Phil, iii. 8. — 13. And laftly, A
c high valuation for the word and inftitutions of Je-
c fus Chrift. He fays, That by the help of the Spi-
( rit, he could apply them all to himfelf. And that

* during the public prayer after fermon, he was in a
' frame furprifing to himfelf: that his whole heart

* and affections, went out in clofmg with Jefus Chrift ;

< and that he was filled with, rejoicing and wonder at
4 his love.

* During that night, and two days after, he was
' much dejecled and caft down, for fear that things

* were not right with himj and left it was not a real
c work of grace upon him.

' He got out of this plunge, by the third verfe of

NARRATIVE. 117

* the fixth chapter of Hofea, brought to his remem-

* brance while he was retired. Then flail ive know,
< if tve follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is
'prepared as the morning; and he Jhall come unto us as
1 the rain ; as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
' It was fome days after that, ere he could find thefe
f words out. He was then filled with joy in the

* Lord, and wonder at his love, and thought he could

* do and fuffer any thing for Jefus Chriit; who had
' done and fuffered fo much for him. He came to

* be fatisfied about the truth of the work of grace
' upon him, and to be free from doubts about his in-
' tereft: which he (f ,y,->, continues in fome good mea-

* furc with him, ai^i that though he is fometimes
' dull, as he calls it; yet he is not a day to an end
' without fome reviving.

* The above relation was made me by the forefaid
€ perfon upon the 27th of May laft in my clofet, his

* converfation, appears to all who know him, to be

* fober, pious, and fuitable to the narrative given.

The perfon concerned in this Journal, continues,
by grace, this 1 6th of September, to walk tenderly,
and in every indance of life as becometh a good
chriftian.

I have not taken down the relation others of this
fort have given me of their cafe. There is one who
comes near this clafs, feeing he never applied to any
minifter, and opened his diftrefs to few, if to any,
while he was under it. He lives upon the borders v
of this parifh, and attends ordinarily public ordinan
ces here, becaufe of his great diftance from his own
parifli church. He put a paper in my hand, upon
Sabbath the 8th of Auguft, which he defired me to
perufe at leifure. I found it to contain an account
of God's dealing with his foul. It was written and
fubfcribed by him, at his dwelling-houfe, Auguft 5th,
I 3

n8 K I L S Y T H

I (hall fubjoin an abftract of it, giving his own word:

for the mofl part.

He fays, * He is much troubled until he mak<
known to me what the Lord hath beftowed of hi!
infinite mercy upon him fince the Lord's fuppei
was given in this congregation. That firft of all,
while he was hearing the action fermon preached
from Zech. ix. 11. he was made to fee himfell
bound in that pit wherein there is no •water. And
thought in his mind, as if one had fpoken to him,

* thefe words, Believe or thou Jhalt be damned; upon
' which he fell into great trouble of mind. When

* Mr. Thomas Gillefpie exhorted the laft table, and

* told the worthy communicants, That God and

* Chrift were theirs, heaven and earth were theirs,

* Bible and minifters were theirs, he thought he had
c no right to any thing that was good. And being
' gone home he wept all night/ — He writes further
in thefe words. * Coming to the church on Mon-

* day when Mr. Mackie clofed the work, he ex-
c prefled thefe words, O blefs God, unworthy com-

* municants, that he is dill waiting to be gracious

* to you; although you have trampled his Son's blood

* under your feet. That word gave me fome com-

* fort. And when he was done, ye gave fome di-
' reclions, faying, Did we not envy them that were

* going home with Chrift in their bofom, and we
' have the devil in ours? And earneftly entreated us

* to part with the devil, and take Chrift. At which

* words, I thought I faw the devil in my own bofom.

* I came to your barn, and thefe words came into

* my heart, Thou art damned already; and I came

* home; for I thought it folly to fpeak to any mini-

* fter, for my cafe was paft hope. And I prayed that

* the Lord would not caft me into hell, till I gave

* him thanks for all his mercies I had received, fince

* I came into this world. And fince I muft be
6 damned, I prayed, That the Lord would fave all

NARRATIVE. 119

others, and I would be content to go to hell myfelf
alone. In this fad condition, and much worfe
than I can tell, I continued for fome time. And
lying on my bed one night bewailing my condition :'
Afterwards he fpeaks of impreffions of pardon, his
jncern about confellion of fin, and the continuance
f thefe impreffions of pardon till he fell afleep, and
dds, ' When I awaked, all my comfort was gone,
and I would have given a thoufand worlds for one
fmile again: but there is no tongue can tell fuch
grief and love my heart did burn with. Me thought
my heart would break, when I thought on the great
love and good will of heaven to mankind finners;
confidering my own unworthinefs, that ere ever I
had thoughts of mercy, he mewed me fuch kind-
nefs. O if I had ten thoufand hearts ! I would do
nought elfe but (hew forth his praife. Likewife,
I heard a minifter preach at your church on thefe
words, Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye
are fealed unto the day of redemption. And another
fcripture cited, Quench not the Spirit. Thefe two
fcriptures did me much good. So when any good
thought comes in my mind, I look in the fcripture,
and if I find it there, I endeavour to keep it; and
if I do not, I let it go, as not confident with the
word of God. Blefled be God, I take more delight
in ftriving to pleafe him, than ever I did to pleafe
my own evil conceit, and fulfilling my worldly luft.
I had a great mind to go to the Lord's table at the
facrament in our own church: but I thought, that
furely my fins were not yet repented of: for I faw
many perfons, that I was fure, were not fo great
finners as I, fore and long troubled, and I had not
fuffered the one half that they had. That word
was put in my heart, Wilt thou eat tny fe/Jj, and
drink my blood, and haft no part In me? At which
words I almoft defpaired of mercy for the fpace of
two days. And while I lamented my condition in
I 4

120 K I L S Y T H

prayer to God, thefe words were engraven in my
heart, He that doubteth foall be damned; for thy Jtm
are forgiven thee; Why doft thou this? Thefe words
made me as ftrong in love to my Redeemer as ever.
So I went to the Lord's table; and received great
and unfpeakable comfort, and coming home I could
fpeak to no man; my heart was fo ravifhed with

* joy; for I found that the Lord was reconciled to

* my foul. As I was praying in the fields at night,

* there came fuch a fear on me that I gould not

* fpeak, but trembled. 1 thought it was faid to me,
< Fear not, I am betrothed unto tkee: fo all that flavifli

* fear left me, and I praifed God with joy. Some-

* times if I were praying, I can get nothing faid,

* but, O love, O love, redeeming love! And thefe

* impreflions of God's love will come on me, that I

* muft retire from all company for a little. And

* you being the inftrument in God's hand, of firft,
' awakening me, I could not reft, till I revealed it to

* you, defiring always your prayers, that God would

* enable me to perform the duty called for at my

* hand. I have written this, becaufe you have no

* time to difcourfe with me. Blefled be God, that
' ever I heard you preach one fermon.'

Upon the 23d of Auguft laft, he put another pa
per into my hand of that day's date, a part of which
is as follows.

Sir,

f Since the 8th to the I5th day of this month, I
' have been under great diftrefs of mind. For feme*
' times I thought, that I was fure of the Lord's fa-

* vour, and at other times put in great doubt, for

* that the Lord was fo juft, that he would afluredly
< render unto every man according as his works
' fhould be; but that blefTed fcripture, as a fmilc

* from the Lord's own mouth, was imprefled on my
' heart, Come and let us reafon together -, though ywr

NARRATIVE. • 121

* fins le as crimfony I will make them white as ftww.
4 Believe on the Son of Gody and it is impoffible for thee
( to be damned. But alas! my heart put me in great
1 doubt, by reafon that all thefe lively and heart ad-
c miring thoughts of my Redeemer vanifhed away,

* and my heart grew as hard as a (lone, and I could

* fee no lovelinefs in him for which he was to be

* defired. So in this melancholy condition I went
' to the facrament at Cambullang, and being at the
1 table, the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield expreiTed
9 thefe words, O dear Redeemer, feal thefe lambs of
' thine to the day of redemption. At which words
1 my breath was near (topping, and blood gufhed at
c my nofe. He faid, Be not afraid, for God (hall

* put up thy tears in his bottle. Thefe words were
*-put in my heart, A new heart will I give you, and a

* right fpirlt will I put within you, C5V. I fat after—
' wards at the table overjoyed with the love of my

* dear Redeemer. — This is my petition unto you,

* that you would give me fome directions: for fcme-

* times my heart is as cold as ever it was in all my

* life; and I will ftruggle as with one that is flronger
' than I; and would almoft give over to the world
c again, if his mercy did not prevent me. And

* I am greatly afraid, that the Lord will let me fall
' into the hand of my greateft enemies, and then my

* lafl (late is worfe than the firft. I intrrat you, as

* a well-wifher to my foul, to give me fome direc-

* tions againft this doubting fpirit that is in me: for

* fometimes the love that I feel on my heart to my

* Redeemer, is fo great, and the love that I conceive

* he hath to me, and to all who love him with un-

* feigned hearts; that I am obliged to pray, to hold

* his hand, for I am overfilled with his love. And

* at other times I am lukewarm and indifferent,

* though I would pray till I could fpeak no more,

* all is in vain, till the Lord be pleafed to. blow again

* upon my foul."

i22 K I L S Y T H

I converfed with him this day, and found that he
had a pretty diftinft knowledge of the finner's way
of relief by faith in the Lord Jefus. He profefled
that he had accepted a whole Chrift. And he looked
for acceptance with God, not upon the account of
his repentance or duties, but only of Chrift's righte-
oufnefs. And that he was forry for his paft (ins,
and refolved againft fm, in Chrift's ftrength for the
time to come.

I inquired at him, the meaning of fome exprefiions
of his paper. Particularly his praying to be allowed
to contefs his fins, &c. He faid, * That he did not
* think himfelf enough grieved for fins, nor fuffi-
' ciently humbled to believe upon Chrift/ Which
huh been the temptation, and miftake of many
diftreft fouls, they have imagined fuch a meafure of
humiliation, without which they conceived they had
no warrant to believe upon the Lord Jefus Chrift,
not confidering that humiliation is no warrant or

f round to believe, but needful in the hand of the
pirit, to make finners willing to part with all fin,
and believe upon the Lord Jefus.

He and another with him, who had alfo fent me,
in writing, a relation of the exercifes of his foul,
complained bitterly of the hardnefs of their hearts at
that time. I found that they underftood by the hard
nefs of their hearts, the want fometimes of a great
motion of their affections, and lively feelings of fin,
mifery, mercy, &c. and of fears as fometimes they
had them. I told them, that perfons might have
their affedlions and paflions about fpiritual things
greatly moved, and yet be really hard hearted in the
fcripture fenfe; and others might be without fears,
and a great ftir upon their affections, and yet have
gracious, foft, and tender hearts. And that, if they
were willing to have Chrift and grace, and to for-
fake all their known fins, and to comply with the
whole will of God made known to them, and were

NARRATIVE. 123

affected fuitably with fpiritual things, they had not
the hard heart which is fo much fpoken againft, and
condemned in fcripture. And which ufually means
an untrac-lable, dilobedient, and an obftinate will,
to the will of God, and with this they were com
forted.

This is a frequent complaint with many others,
when they cannot feel their affections and paffions
moved in the fame degree they felt when they fuft
clofed with Chrift; though their wills continue as
perfuadable, tractable and obedient as when their
affections were moil lively.

Befides thefe I came formerly to the knowledge
of, which belong to this Article, feveral others of
the fame fort have been difcovered to me in the
month of September laft; while I coriverfed with
them, in order to their admiflion to the Lord's table.
I had a remarkable inftance of one Saturday laft,
being the ninth of this current October. He came
to fpeak with me upon a particular affair; I took
occafion from it to inquire into the ftate of his foul,
having never heard of his being under any concern
about it. To my great furprife, he gave me an ac
count of the beginning and progrefs of fuch a work
upon him as appeared to me exceeding hopeful.
Having time and leifure I wrote it down. And fee
ing fome of my friends defire I would give more
inftances in this Article, I fhall add this to thefe
already given.

W. X. Formerly carelefs, and far from being cir-
cumfpect and blamelefs in his walk, faith, * That in
c the month of March, upon a certain Sabbath, when
* I was lecturing upon the hiftory of ChriiVs life;
' he was tempted to think there was no fuch thing
' as I read and explained, and that there was no God :
' this filled him with great trouble. When he came
' home the temptation ceafed, and he became eafy.

124 K I L S Y T H

< Next Lord's day fome concern about the (late of
' his foul begun with him. When he went about
( family worship after fermon, he thought the Bible

* was dearer to him than ever before; and he began
( to fee fomewhat of his vilenefs by fin, which con-
c tinued with, and increafed upon him, from time to
c time, while I preached feveral fermons from Gal.
' iv. 19. His conflant defire, wherever he went, or

* whatever he did, • was to have Chrift formed in

* him.

( When I was at Cambuflang, May i3th, he was

* there, and was, to his own feeling, brought under
4 fear of God's wrath, becaufe of fin. He faith,

* When he heard the cries of the fpiritually diftref-
' fed, he would have given a world to have been from
' amongfl them: but thought with himfelf, though
4 he might get from amongft them, yet he could not
' flee the judgment of God. He thought there was
« not fo vile a finner as he in the congregation. He
c faith, Though he did not cry, or have any appear-
c ing bodily trouble; yet he was in a flood of tears,
' and his heart was as if it would have burfled through
s his fide. It was his great grief, that he had fitten

under the gofpel-offer all his days, and never had
given heed to it; but flighted and rejected it, of all
which he was now clearly convinced.
' Upon the i6th of May, he was made to fee him
felf, to be the vileft finner prefent in the congrega
tion, and that hell was ready to receive him as his
due. He went home in great inward diftrefs, re
tired to a chamber by himfelf, cried out in the
anguim of his foul, and betook bimfelf to prayer^
Pfalmlxii. 5. as in the metre, came to his mind.

My foul wait tbou •with patience

upon thy Gsd alone :
On him dependeth. all my hspe,

and expt Elation*

NARRATIVE.

< This remained with him a long time. His con-*
f visions continued and increafed, fo that he was
« made to fee many particular fins he was guilty of,
< which he never thought upon before; but efpecially
' flighting Chrift by unbelief. He faith, That from
' the beginning of his concern, he was convinced of.
c the corruption of his nature, and that he was born

* a natural enemy to God: and tiiat as to for row for

* fin, though he was convinced that he deferved
' God's wrath, yet the principal reafon of his forrow
€ was, that he had offended God and flighted Chrift:
' and that he cannot fpeak of this, to this day, with-
' out heart-breaking.

' In the end of May, or beginning of June, while

* he was at his work with others, he was feized with

* a great fear anent his ftate, and his being under the

* wrath of God becaufe of fin. He retired to a pri-
c vate place, and eilayed to pray. He could get no-
( thing faid ; but, O for drift formed in me. He

* returned to his woik, and while he was employed
' in it, he was convinced that hitherto he had built
' his hope upon his own righteoufnefs, and fought

* to be juflified by his own works; and that he had

* all alongft thought it was well with him upon this

* ground. He retired again, got more liberty in
' prayer, and bewailed his former confidence in his
( own works and duties. After this he was let into
' a fight of his heart fins: he imagined he might get
' mercy notwithftanding of his outward fins; but
' wondered if any got mercy, who had committed

* fuch heart-fins as he.

* When the Rev. Mr. Thomas Gillefpie, minifter
c of the gofpel at Carnock, preached here, about the
c beginning of July, from Heb. vii. 25. He war,
' made to fee the fufficiency of Chrift's righteoufnefs,
c and thought if he had a thoufand fouls, he would
' venture them all upon it. Thefe words uttered,
' Chrift kaib &ed hit bhvd for tfree, made deep im-

T26 K I L S Y T H

4 preffion upon him, and he endeavoured to throw
4 himfelf upon it. He found fome degree of love to
4 Chrift, and joy in him. Next morning he was de-
4 jected, from a view of his former profane life, and
4 thought his former attainment was but a flafh, be-
4 caufe he could find no- evidence in himfelf. His
4 dejected frame continued with him to the Lord's
4 day following, when the holy fupper was given in
4 the congregation.

* Upon the morning of the faid day, he rofe early,
4 and went to the fields. After prayer and much
4 confideration there, he refolved not to go to the
4 Lord's table, feeing he had fo often formerly tramp-
4 led upon ChriR's blood by unworthy communicat-
4 ing. In his way homeward, he was afraid to ftay
4 away from the Lord's table, becaufe it was difobe-
4 dience to Chrift's dying command, and was afraid
c to come, leaft he fhould eat and drink unworthily.
4 The former fcripture, O my foul •wait thou upon thy
4 God with patience came into his mind, as alfo, /
4 will go on in ftrength of God the Lord. He returned
4 again to prayer; but after all came to the church
4 unrefolved. During the action fermon, preached
4 from Zech. ix. 11. he was made to fee himfelf
4 unworthy, vile and deferring damnation; he
4 thought he would caft himfelf upon Chrift, refolv-
4 ing in his ftrength againft fin, and if he perimed,
4 he refolved to periih lying at the feet of his mercy.
4 He faith, that towards the end of the fermon, I told,
4 Chrift in the gofpel-offer, was the rope let down
4 to draw them out of that pit wherein there is no
4 water, and I cried to finners to catch hold of this
c rope: his heart was then enabled to accept and
4 take hold of Chrift, to his apprehenfion, in the
4 fincereft manner: he was raviflied with love to Je-
4 fus Chrift, and found his foul fo altered, that he
4 was perfuaded the Lord Jefus was come into his
4 heart. He went to the Lord's table, and faith,

NARRATIVE. 127

' That he found his heart contrary to whatever it
' was before, and that this contrarity continues with
« him/ I inquired at him, wherein he obferved this
contrariety? He anfwered, * He found a heart-hatred
' at all fin, and was more afraid of fin than of hell.
' And whereas before he had no delight in hearing,
' reading, or in prayer; but thefe were a burden to
' him; now they are his delight. Whereas formerly
' he had no concern about love to Chrift: now he
' hath it for his continual grief, that he cannot get
' a heart to love the blefled Jefus enough. Formerly

* any formal duties he did he thought them good and
' right enough: now he fees the continual need of the

* blood of Chrift to wafh away the guilt of his bed
' duties, and to be the ground of his acceptance in
' the fight of God. Formerly he had no regard to
' the laws of Jefus Chrift: now he fees them all to

* be fo juft and right, that he wonders at his own

* wickednefs in breaking fuch juft laws. Formerly he

* faw no need of the Holy Spirit to fanclify and
c enable him to repent, believe, and do holy duties;

* and never had the leaft thought about this: he now
' cries for the teachings of the Holy Spirit, and his

* grace to enable him.

' During a fermon, preached by the Rev. Mr. Alex-
' ander Webfter, minifter of the gofpel at Edin-
' burgh, from Eph. i. 7. upon the Wednefday there-
' after at Kilfyth, he was further filled with peace
' and joy in believing. He continues for the molt
' part in this comfortable fituation. Sometimes he

* is greatly troubled with inclinations to felf-righte-

* oufnefs, and with vain thoughts in time of hearing,
' which are his grief and burden. He faith, It is
' his great concern, that this blefled work make
' progrefs through the whole land, out of love to the
« glory of God, and the falvation of fouls; and, that

* the kingdom of Jefus Chrift may be advanced.'

There can be no objection taken from public out-

128 K I L S Y T H

cries, or bodily difiirefles, or having recourfe to def-
pifed minifters for direction under fpiritual diftrefs,
made againft thefe in this Article of whom 1 have
given only a few inftances: though able to give many
more if it mall be found needful. I (halUherefore
proceed to narrate the cafe of them from whofe cir-
cumftances the principal objections againft this blefied
work have been taken, and leave all to the judgment
of the chriftian, and unprejudiced reader.

ARTICLE IV.

Concerning them who cried out ivhen they 'were aiva*
kenedj or made application to me, from time to timet
under their fpiritual diftre/s ; but were not under
any bodily affections.

HPHEY are greatly miftaken, who imagine, that
-*- all thofe who have been obfervably awakened in
this or other congregations, have come under faint-
ings, tremblings, or other bodily diftrefles. Thefe
have been by far the feweft number. As far as I
and others can judge, they have not been one to fix.
Others have indeed cried out when their fpiritual
diftrefs came to a height, and fome cried not out at
all, with whom, notwithstanding their inward dif-
trefs was fo great, as they were obliged to apply to
me, and the minifters to whofe charge they belonged,
for advice and direction.

This Article gives inftances of thefe two forts, as
they are diftinguifhed from the iirft fort mentioned.

There was a great variety in the expreffions uttered
by them who cried out in the public. Their diffe-

NARRATIVE. 129

rent out-cries were fuch as thefe, I am undone.
What (hall I do? What Jball I do to be faved? Lord
have mercy upon me. Oh, alas! O this unbeliev
ing heart of mine. Some crying out bitterly, with
out uttering any words. Others reftrained crying
out, while they were in public, who did it bitterly
after they retired to their homes, and fometimes in
their way homeward, and hereby gave no difturbance
to the public preaching of the word, as thefe difor-
derly hearers (in the judgment of the adverfaries to
this blefled work) gave to Peter's fermon, according
to the hiftory of the fecond of the A6ts. Though
indeed, I mud acknowledge, I would be glad to be
difturbed every fermon I preach by the out-cries of
all the Chriftlefs perfons hearing me, if fo were the
will of God, to give them fuch a fight of their fin
and danger; as muft break out into immediate and
undelayed inquiries after the way of efcape. Let
thofe that never faw their own miferable condition
in the light of a clear and full conviction, wonder to
fee or hear of others fo deeply diftrefied in fpirit, as
to make fuch out-cries; I do not; becaufe, I am
fure fpiritual troubles do not exceed the caufe and
ground of them, let them be as great and deep as
they will. And if others have had the effect of con-
veriion, by the power of God's Spirit in a gentler
way; or, have had the difcovery of the remedy as
foon as the mifery, which muft needs prevent a great
part of this trouble ; let them not misjudge others,
and fet themfelves up as ftandards: feeing that they
are ftrangers to the doctrine of converfion, and the
experiences of the Lord's people, who know not
that God's ways of working in this, are various, and
different as to circum (lances, though producing the
fame bleffed effect.

The inftances I give of them belonging to this
Article, are, firft of all, the fourth and the ninth
journals from Kilfyth, in the Weekly Hiftory, printed

130 K 1 L S Y T H

at Glafgow. Both of thefe perfons continue to this
i pth of October, to walk in the fear of the Lord,
and comforts of the Holy GhoR. The woman hath
had feveral more than ordinary fheddings abroad of
the Jove of God in her heart, by the Holy Ghoft
given unto her.

Fourth journal from Kilfyth.

G. H. Was firft awakened, May i6th, of ablame-
lefs life, and an ordinary communicant for fome
years pad; her fpirituai diftrefs was confiderably
great. Tlie keeping a journal of the progrefs of the
work of God upon her was omitted, through fome
thing or other which call up, when ihe came to me
from time to time.

June 8tby She was with me, and told me, It was
better with her, than when (he was with me the 4th
current. She faid, She was fomewhat comforted by
the inilruclions the Lord dire&ed me to give her that
day; and began to be cheerful that night Upon
the Saturday, (he was filled with doubts and fears,
lead fhe was building upon a falfe foundation, and
was fo uneafy at night that (he could not fleep.
Upon the Lord's day, her fpiritual diftrefs increafed
to a great, height. In her way home, fhe was greatly
afraid leaft death fhould feize her before (he got in
to Chrift. She fat down by the way, and compofed
herfelf to fpiritual meditation, the following fcrip-
ture came into her mind with great power, Be ftill>
and know that 1 am God, the eflfecl: of which was,
That it compofed her to wait with patience until the
Lord's time fliould come to relieve her, and that fhe
was free from difturbing and diftrefling doubts and
fears, that diflurbed her, and was compofed in
prayer.

NARRATIVE. 131

Upon the Monday, while me was employed in her
worldly affairs, (he thought, that {he could have been
content, to be conftantly employed in praifing God.
All that while that word was itrongly inforced upon
her, Be Jlill and knoiv that 1 am God. — In the even
ing, while (he was late at her wheel in her mailer's
houfe, the following fcriptures were impreiTed upon
her, Fear not for I am iifith thee^ be not difmayed for
1 am thy God. When thou pajfeft through the waters ^ 1
•will be with thee : and through the rivers t they /hall not
overflow thee: when thou walkefl through the fire thin
/bait not be burnt ; neither jhall the jtume kindle upon
thee. I will deliver thee in fix troubles; yea, in /even
there Jhall no evil touch thce. She found her heart
begin to rife fo with wonder at the mercy of God,
that fhe was ready to cry out in his loud praifes. She
rofe and ran to her own chamber, fituate upon one
end of her matter's houfe, and broke out in the
praife of God. She was fo much filled with love to
Chriit, and views of the greatnefs of his love to her,
that (he was overwhelmed with them. It was faid
to her, Daughter, be of good cheer , for t/jy fins are
forgiven thee, which filled her fo with joy, that (he
could not contain it: fhe cried out, Unto him that
loved US) and waJJjed us from our fins in his own blood^ and
hath made us kings and priefls unto God, and his Father;
to him be glory and dominion , fir ever and ever. Amen.
She fays, She thought (he could not cry loud enough
to exprefs his praifes, thinking that all that was
within her, was but too little to do it, and that fhe
was fo overwhelmed, that her heart was like to come
out-, yec felt no pain but much fweetnefs. When
her mailer came to her, {lie cried out, Come all ye
that fear the Lord, and I will tell you what he hath
done for my foul; and faid, That if all they who
ever were, or {hall be, were prefent, {he would
think it too little to tell it to them; and if they who op-
K i

132 K I L S Y T H

pofcd this work of the Spirit of God were prefent, (he
would tell it, to his praife, if they fliould kill her (her
m after told me he heard thefe expreffions,) (lie faid,
That (lie was compofed in a while afterwards: but
could not be fatisfied, is not fatisfied, nor ever will
be fatisfied with uttering his praifes.

She proceeded further, and faid to me, That (he
would lay her mouth in the duft, and be deeply hum
bled before the Lord fo long as (he lives, and that me
thinks (lie could ly down with Mary at Chrift's feet,
and warn them with her tears, and wipe them with
the hairs of her head. She faid, Chrift fays, / love
them thai love me, and they that feek me early ft all find
me. But alas! Cried (he, I have been too long a
feeking him, I thought I had been feeking him before;
but it was not a right feeking him: fo long as I re
garded fin in my heart, the Lord did not hear me.
I afked her, How (he was all night? She faid, That
after fhe fell afleep, fhe flept pretty well, (he thought
ibme body was oppofing her, and faying, It was
not the work of the Lord, which awaked her with
this in her mouth, 1 will not fear what jlejb can do to
me, and) O tajle and fee, that God is good.

She faid, That this morning, fhe fung the xlvi.
Pfalm, beginning at the loth ver. and when (he came
away, fhe thought ic was faid to her, Why nveepejl
thou? Whom feekejl thou? (it is to be obferved that
fhe continued to fhed tears abundantly) fhe faid fur
ther to me, Worldly thoughts are away from me
now, and Oh, if they would never return again!
ten thoufand worlds could never give me the love
and joy Chrift filled me with yefternight, and are
not fo much as to be compared with them. In the
ftrongeft manner fhe exprefled her hatred at fin, and
refolutions againft it in Chrift's ftrength. And when
I put feveral queftions to her, which fhe fatisfyingly
anfwered; fhe faid, Sir, though you put queftions
to me as was dons to Peter, Chrift knows my heart,

NARRATIVE. 133

and he who knows all things, knoweth that I love
him. She faid, She refolved to (hew her love to
Chrift by keeping his commandments, and that (he
was fenfible her duties are worthlefs, and can never
deferve any thing: but that {he had taken Chrift's
righteoufnefs to be her righteoufnefs in the fight of
God. She broke out in furprifing words of love
and aflurance, fuch as, He is my fure portion, 'whom
I have chcfenfcr ever. O what hath he done for me !
when I had ruined myfelf by fin original and actual ?
Though both my parents have left me, yet the Lord
hath taken me up. She faid, with great emotion,
That (he defired to have all the world brought
to Chrift, and for to feel what {he felt and doth
feel.

June loth. She told me this day, That {he is ftill
under doubts and fears, leaft me is too much encou
raged, but the following fcriptures imprefied gives
her relief. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe
in God, believe alfo in me. And that yefterday when
me heard the judgment to come preached upon ; me
was not afraid of the threatnings, for me faw fecu-
rity in Chrift for her ; and that flie would not be
afraid, if me faw him coming in the clouds: but
that it would be a blyth fight to her, for he was her
friend. And that fuch fcriptures as thefe came into
her mind. Be not afraid, for I am thy God; and
Why art thou difquieted 0 my foul, Why art thou cajl
dwn >within me? Hope Jlilfin God; for I Jhall yet
praife him, •who is the health of my countenance and my
God. She faid, that me fung the ninety-eight Pfalm
with the congregation that day, with fuch joy and
comfort, as me never could before; and that me
might fay as in the fourth Pfalm, that me had more
joy than1 corn and ivine could give her.

134 K I L S Y T H

Ninth Journal from Kiifyth: extracted from my
July 20//>, 1742.

R. S. Firft touched with conviclions upon the
Lord's day, May i6th. He heard fermons upon the
"Wednefday at Kiifyth, and upon the Thurfday al
Kirkintilloch: but ftruggied with his convictions
until the fald Thursday's night, when he could hold
no longer; but getting up from his father's fire-fide:
run out to the fields, where he cried out violentl)
under his diftrefs. He came to me upon the morn
ing of the 2 ill of May, with great out-cries. He
had a diftrefling fight of particular fins, fuch aj
Sabbath-breaking, curfing, f wearing, evil thoughts,
He was grieved for fin as an offence againft God,
And faid with great earneftnefs, he would give 2
thousand worlds for Chrift.

May iqth, He faid, That he faw he had a vile
corrupt nature, and the evil of defpifing Chrifl
through unbelief, and faid, He would not for all the
world not have had this uneafy fight of fin, nor be
freed from it, until he come to Chrift.

June %th and ioth, His fpiritual diflrefs continu
ing, and complaining of the hardnefs of his heart, 1
endeavoured to inflrucl him in the nature of faith,
and the way of falvation by Jefus Chrift.

June 1 7^6, He faid, He was very uneafy in the
kirk upon Tuefday evening, after he heard the valu
able Mr. Whitefield preach that day at Kiifyth. He
faid, That his heart warmed to Jefus Chrift, I afked
him, Why? He anfwered, Becaufe of his love tc
poor finners, and namely to me the chief of all fin-
ners. I inquired at him, If it was accompanied witli
hatred at fin? He cried out, for having offended
fuch a juft and holy God, and that he hated every
thing that was offenfive to him. He faid, That he

NARRATIVE. 135

had eflayed to clofe with Chrift, and that his very
heart warms when he f peaks of him. That, this
word came home unto him, and runs continually in
his mind Matth. xi. 28, 29 Come unto me all ye that
labour > and are heavy laden > anu I ivill give you reft.
Taxe my yoke upon you> and learn of -me, for 1 am meek
and lowly in heart: and y jlali find reft for your fouls.

June 2<\th, He faid, lie was iome ' eaiicr ftnce he
was hit with me, and that he hath endeavoured to
clofe with a whole Chrift, and counts all things but
lofsand dung for the excellency of the knowledge of
Jefus Chriit, and that he may win him, and that
he hath now an inclination to Chrift, rnd that his
heart flutters in him like a bird when he thinks of
him.

July 3</, He told me, That he is now well, for
Sabbath la it, while a reverend minifter was fpeaking
of the prodigal fon, and that his father ran to meet
him, he thought with himfelf what a prodigal he
had been, and that Jefus Chriit had come to him:
he was filled with fuch a fenfe of it, that he was
like to flee from the feat where he was fitting. He
faid, That he was filled with love to Chrift from the
fenfe of Chrift's love to him; and that he had clofed
with Chrift in all his offices, and laid the itrefs of
his whole falvation upon him, &c. He laid to me,
Sir, many 'a day I have had a light heart in fin; but
now my heart is light indeed, and my love to Chrift
every day grows.

July «3/^, He faid, That when he was at the
Lord's table, to which he was admitted the lafl
Lord's day, he had the greateft comfort in clofmg
with a whole Chriit in all his offices, and his heart
warmed to him. He had large views of what a vile
fin net he had been, arid of the wonders, grace and
mercy had done for him, particularly in bringing him
to his holy table. He faid, He blefied the Lord with
heart and foul, and fpirit, and all that was within
K4

136 K I L S Y T H

him for Chrift, and what he had done for him; and
that he had fears left he mould fall away, and made
application to Jefus Chrift to keep him : and that it
was a joyful fight to him, when he faw the bread
broken, a fign of Chrift's body broken for him,
which he believed, as alfo that his blood was (hed
for him.

I {hall add to thefe other Journals extracted from
my book, the two following who neither cried out
in the public, nor were under bodily diftrefles.

June 26th, Y. Z. Says, He was frequently under
concern laft winter, while the doclrine of regene
ration was preached; and that he examined himfelf
by the fcripture marks given of regeneration: but
could find none of them in himfelf; yet his concern
came no length. He was brought under deeper con
cern, Sabbath was a fortnight, in hearing the marks
of unbelievers in a, fermon I preached from John iii.
36. He fays, Thefe cut him wholly off. He was
convinced of particular fins, of the evil of unbelief, the
corruption of nature, and the need of a new nature.
He fays, That he is forry for fin, and would be
fo, though it did not make him liable to hell, be-?
caufe he hath offended and difhonoured God by his
fms. As to felf-loathing, he faith, That he hates
himfelf for his fins, and is convinced, that no fuf-
ferings of his can ever fatisfy the offended juftice of
God for the leaft of his offences, and that if he could
abftain from all fin for the time to come, and keep
the law perfectly, it could not fatisfy for the evil
of fin already paft; and that this is only to be ob
tained by the righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift imputed
to him. I inftru&ed him in the nature of faith, and
prefled him to a diftincl: acting of it, with a faith
and perfuafion of his attaining to all that he receives,
and trufts in Chrift for, according to the promife oJ
God.

July 6th) By the account he gives of himfelf, I am

NARRATIVE. 137

perfuaded, he hath clofed with Chrift. I endeavour
ed to anfwer and fatisfy many objections and doubts
he propofed to me: but did not infert them in my
book. I advifed him to receive the Lord's fupper,
but he durft not adventure, being doubtful about his
faith and intereft in Chriit, though he had been for
merly a communicant. He hath iince attained unto
feme fatisfying fcripture marks and evidences of his
intereft in Chrift; hath received the Lord's fupper,
and continues to walk in the fear of the Lord, and
fome meafure of the comfort of the Holy Ghoft.

B. A. Came to me, June i8th, and told me, She
hath been uneafy fmce the r6th of May, and that
her concern increafed upon her Sabbath, Monday,
and Tuefday laft. She was convinced of unbelief,
and the evil of it; and was very uneafy about the
fin of unworthy communicating: but did not feem
to be convinced particularly of her other fins againft
the law, nor of the corruption of her nature, and
was forry for fin only becaufe of its making her li
able to the wrath of God. I gave her inftru£lions
and directions fuitable to the view I had of her cafe.

July 5//;, She then faw particular fins, but was
moil of all uneafy about unworthy communicating,
and the evil of unbelief. She prcfeffed, that ihe was
forry for fin, becaufe me had offended God by it,
and alfo that ihe loathed herfelf for her fins. She
did not as yet appear to be convinced of the corrup
tion of her nature. I advifed her to cry to God to
convince her of it, to give her faith, to embrace
Chrift as offered to her in the gofpel, and that with
a dependence upon him, (he would eflay to do it.
In all which I endeavoured to inftrucl her.

July gtk, She faid, That (lie now faw, that fhe
brought a corrupt nature with her into the world,
that is enmity to God, and all good; and, that fhe
is loft and undone by it. She faid, That (he had

133 K I L S Y T H

accepted of Jefus Chrift in all his offices, and his
righteoufnefs to be hers in the fight of God, feeing
all her own righteoufnefs to be but as filthy rags. She
faid, That fhe was much diftrefled yetterday mor
ning, but was comforted with Ifaiah ixi. 10. After
inftruftions and directions 1 admitted her to the
Lord's table.

July \<)th, She faid, She was under much fear
2nd terror before fhe came to the Lord's table, but
faid, I will go in the (irength of God the Lord.
When (he was there, (he was filled wi:h joy in Chrift,
as a fufficient Saviour. She had a view of her fins
piercing him, and forrow upon that account; fhe
continues to live and to walk as becometh a good
chriftiau.

D. C. Neither cried out in the public, nor was
under any bodily diftrefs, though very much diftref-
fed inwardly; was with me June 7th, as (he had
been formerly. She was convinced then of particu
lar fins, the corruption of her nature, and the evil
of unbelief. I difcourfed with her of the nature of
godly forrow, felf-Ioathing, and preffcd her to feek
after them, and to plead in prayer, Ezek xxxvi. 31.
She faid, That a word came into her mind, fo ftrong
as if another had fpoke it to her, Draw nigh t? Godt
and he will draw nigh to thee. And at another time
while (he was alone and very uneafy, Pfal. Ivii. 7. My
heart is fixed y O God, my heart is fixed: I will fing
and give praife. I told her thefe words pointed out
to her her duty to draw nigh to God through Jefus
Chrift, and to feek after a heart fixed and eftabliftied
by grace, to fing and give praife to him.

June \.-]th and 24^, She told me, Both thefe days,
that fhe was more diftrefled than formerly, from a
diftin&er view of original fin and corruption than
ever fhe had before. I inftru£led her, that there
was a full and complete relief for her in Chrift Jefus

NARRATIVE. 139

from that, and all her other fins. She faid, It was
fome comfort to her this laft day, that icripture com
ing to heV mind, By his knowledge foall my righteous
fervant jujl'ify many, for he jlaU bear their iniquities.
I told her that the ufe the ihould have made of that
was, to believe upon Jcius Chriit, that fne may be
juitified by faith in him.

About the beginning of July, foe faid, That (he,
had undergone many changes fince flic was with me.
I inquired at her, If (he Uaq been endeavouring to
embrace Jefus Chriit as he is freely offered to her in
the goipel? She anfwered, That (he was willing to
receive him in all his offices, and to part with all
things for him; for he is before all things, that ever
were, or (hall be: and that {he was willing ro take
Chrift's righteoufnefs, to be her whole righteoufnefs
in the fight of God, renouncing all confidence in her
works and duties, for acceptance before God. She
faid, That Ifa xlv. 22. and xli. 10. being brought
into her mind when (he was in great diftrefs, gave
her fome fupport. She had great joy while in fecret
yefterday. The ground of it was a view of Chrift's
mercy in awakening, and coming to fo great a (inner,
who had grieved his Holy Spirit, and broken all her
vows to him; and that he might have let her lie (till
in the devil's arms, and go to hell; which would
have been no lofs to him. She faid, It was a great
pleafure to her to ferve fuch a matter, and one who
had done fo much for her. She further faid, That
(he was uneafy yefterday, about former unworthy
communicating, while (he was hearing the lecture
upon i Cor. xi. chap, from the 23d verfe, and that
fhe now mourns for it, and flees to Chrift's blood
to cleanfe her from that guilt. I allured her, that
his precious blood, that clean fed thefc converts, men
tioned in the fecond of the Acts, from the guilt of
this blood, would cleanfe her from it, if (he really
(did fo. She faid alfo, That {he endeavoured to obey

MO K I L S Y T H

the gofpel-call, to clofe with Chrift yeflerday, and it
gave her joy to think of the free accefs (he had to
Jiim; and that he would not caft her out. And,
that yeflerday when (he remembred what me heard
Mr. Whitefield fay, of the married man in the xxii.
of Matthew, That he Jhwld have comey and brought his
•wife •with hlm> (he thought, That fhe would come,
and if fhe had ten thoufand to bring with her, fhe
would have come with joy to fuch a Saviour; if fhe
could have perfuaded them to come.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PAR
TICULARS KNOWN TO ME AT THE TIME,
CONCERNING THE PROGRESS OF THIS BLES
SED WORK.

TT is the defire of fome, and I hope will be accep-
*• table to many others, to have an account of what
(hall come to my knowledge of the progrefs of this
work from time to time. This I fliall endeavour to
give, in every print of this Narrative, until it be fi-
riifhed, if the Lord will.

October 3^, The Lord's fupper was given a fecond
time in this congregation. It was firft propofed to
me privately by the Rev. Mr. William M'Culloch,
minifter of the gofpel at Cambuflang, when I was
there at the giving of the Lord's fupper, Auguft I5th.
All I faid then was, That I had never thought of it,
and that the Lord's fupper was to be given in the
neighbouring parim of Cumbernauld after harveft;
which appeared to me an objection againft any fuch
defign. After this I had the propofal much under

NARRATIVE. 141

my confederation, but fpoke of it to nobody. Many
objections were muftercd in my mind againft it.
I had a rooted averfion at any thing that looked iike
affecting popularity, and was greatly afraid, that the
giving the Lord's fupper a iecond time in the con
gregation, and within a quarter of a year, after it
had been given, might be mifconftru&ed this way.
While I was thus toffed in my mind, and almoft re-
folved againft it: a member of the feilion, whofe
judgment I greatly value, came to me upon a certain
Lord's day betwixt fermons, and propofed it to me
as his own defire, and alfo of feveral others in the
congregation, that this facrarnent thould be given a
fecond time. I was prevailed with to propofe it to
the feffion in the evening. The members of the
feflion were defired to advertife the fever;.! focieties
for prayer, to feek light and direction from God
anent it, and to inquire into the fentiments of the
people about it, and to report unto the next fefiion.
After this the feffion met again and again, to pray
and deliberate about it. I was informed, That it
was the earned defire of the generality of the parifh
to have it. They urged that the Lord had wrought
great and extraordinary things in the congregation
this fummer, in a work of conviction and conver-
fion; and they thought that the mod foiemn and
extraordinary thankfgiving, was due to him from
them; and which they could not ofFer to him in a
more foiemn manner, than in this ordinance of
thankfgiving; they declared alfo, That they were
willing to bear a confiderable part of the charges,
and offered to bear the whole, if it had been accep
ted. I durft not, after all things confidered, refufe
to give them the Lord's ordinance, which they had
a right to, and fo earnefUy defired: efpecially, con-
fidering that the giving of it at moft in country con
gregations but once a year, is a complaint againft
our conftitution. It was refolved then, with an

i42 K I L S Y T H

to the Lord, to give this ordinance upon the third
Sabbath of Oaober.

I was aflifted in the giving of it by the neighbour
ing miniiters, and former affidarits who could be
with me, fuch as the Rev. Mr. John M'Laurin, mi-
nifter of the gofpel at Glafgow, Mr. James Warden
at Calder, Mr. John Warden at Campfie, Mr. James
Burnfide at Kirk.ntilloch, Mr. James Mackie at St.
Ninians, Mr. John Smith at Larbart, Mr. Speirs at
Linlithgo\v, Mr. Thomas" Gillefpie at Carnock, Mr.
Hunter at Saline, Mr. M'Cuiloch at Cambuflang,
and Mr. Porteous at Monivaird. — Some of theie
Rev. brethren, who had not been formerly my af-
fiitants, were invited to fupply the place of fome of
my neighbours, who could not be with me at this
time; or, to anfwer for the more than ordinary de
mand of preaching and other miniilerial work.
Some of thefe brethren alfo came to join with us of
themfelves, and kindly gave their afliftance as they
were called. Mr. James Young, preacher of the
gofpel at Falkirk, having been invited, affifted by
preaching.

Upon the faft-day, fermon was in the fields, to a
very numerous and attentive audience, by three mi-
nifters, without any intermiflion, becaufe of the
fhortnefs of the day. Upon the Friday's evening
there was fermon in the kirk, and there was a good
deal of concern among the people. Upon the Sa
turday there was fermon both in the kirk and in the
fields.

Upon the Lord's day, the public fervice began
about half an hour after eight in the morning, and
continued without intermiffion until half an hour
after eight in the evening, when all was concluded.
I preached the a£Hon fermon, by the divine direc
tion and afliftance, from Eph. ii. 7. That in the age;
to come he might Jhew the exceeding riches of his grace,
in his kindnefs towards us, through Ckrift Jefus. There

NARRATIVE. 143

were twenty-two fervices; each confifting of about
feventy pertons, except the laft which had only a
few, fo that the number of communicants amounted
to near fifteen hundred. The evening fermon began
immediately after the lail fervice. And though I
defired that the congregation in the fields fhould be
difmified after the laft fervice, yet they chofe raiher
to continue together until ail was over, when t Jit1 re
was the molt defirable frame, and obfervable concern
among the people, that had ever been any where
feen; it began to be confiderable, when the Rev.
Mr. John Warden, minifter of the gofpel at Campfie
preached, and it continued and iucreafed greatly,
while the Rev. Mr. Speirs preached, who concluded
the public work of this day in the fields.

Upon the Monday, there were fermons both in
the kirk and in the fields. There was a good deal
of obfervable concern, and feverals brought under
fpiritual diftrefs in the fields. In the evening, two
rninifters had fucceflively public difcourfes, unto the
numerous diftrefled conveened in the church. As
alfo upon the Tuefday morning there was a fermon
preached, and a difcourfe by another minifter con
taining fuitablc inftru&ions and directions, both ta
the awakened, and to them who had never attained
to any fenfe and fight of their fin and danger.

The fpiritual fruits of this folemn and extraordi
nary difpenfation of word and facrament are, as far
as known to me, imo feveral chriftlefs and fecure
finners were awakened to a fight of their fin and
mifery, the mod part of whom were ftrangers from
other congregations at a diftance. Zion's mighty
King brought the wheel of the law over them, and
fent them home with broken and contrite hearts.

Secondly, Some who came here without any fcrnfi-
ble relief from the fpiritual diftrefs, and law-work
they had been under for a long time, felt fuch a time
of the Mediator's power, as enabled them to embrace

144 K I L S Y T H

Jefus Chrift with fuch diftindtnefs, as to know that
they had done it: a fovereignly gracious Lord, who
comforts them that are caft down, filling them at
the fame time, with fuch a feeling of his love fhed
abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghoft given unto
them, that they couid not contain-, but were conftrain-
ed to break forth with floods of tears in the mod
fignificant expreffions of their own vilenefs and un-
wortlnnefs, and of the deep fenfe they had of the ex
ceeding riches of God's grace, in his kindnefs ihqwn
towards them through Jefus Chrift.

Thirdly* There were a great many who declared
to me, that while they were at the Lord's table, and
at other times, during this attendance, they had more
than ordinary feelings of the love of God to their
fouls, and out-goings of their love towards the alto
gether lovely Jefus; and thefe not only of the elder
fort; but fome who were very young. A judicious
folid chriftian told me, That he was fo much in this
blefled fituation, as he could fcarcely reflrain himfelf
from crying out.

There were many ftrangers from a great diftance
who came hither to keep this feaft to the Lord; fe-
veral of them of note and diftindtion in the world,
of great penetration and judgment, and long experi
ence in the chriftian life, who declared themfelves
well fatisfied with what they had heard, feen and
felt, by the Lord's mercy in this place, and returned
to their houfes joyful and glad in heart, for the
goodnefs that the Lord had fnewed unto his people.

I record all this, to the praife and glory of our
God, in and through Jefus Chrift, and that I may
mention the loving kindnefs of the Lord, and the
praifes of the Lord, according to all that the Lord
hath beftowed on us, and the great goodnefs towards
the houfe of Ifrael, which he hath beftowed on them,
according to his mercies, and according to the mul
titude of his loving kindrtefles.

N A R R'A T I V E. 145

It will be agreeable tidings, to all who defire and
pray for the coming of the kingdom of God, to be
informed that this out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, is
confiderably obfervable to the Northward, beyond
what hath been formerly mentioned in this Narra
tive. Not to be particular now as to the much grea
ter progrefs of this bleffed work in the parifhes of
Gargunnock arid St. Niniaris; I (hall at this time
give fome particular account of the remarkable com
ing of the Comforter to the pariih of Muthil, to
convince many there of fin, of righteoufncfs, and of
Judgment.

This p:\rtfh is fituate in the fhire of Perth, and
prefbvterv u. 'SuciiK rarder, about four miles to the
North-Weft of ihe (aid prefbytery feat. They have
bet n many years under the paftoral care of the Rev.
Mr William liajley, an able and fufficient minifter
of the New Teftament, and one who is known to be
laborious and faithful. The reader will be informed
much better, by a letter I received from the faid
Rev. brother, upon the 2d of this current October,
than by any abftracl I can give of it: which letter is
as follows.

Rev. dear Brother,

R f°me time paft, I have been much refrefhed
with tidings of great joy, not only from abroad,
Viz. New-England, and other remote parts, but alfo
from different corners of our own land, particularly
from the parim whereof you have the paftoral charge,
from whence I hear of a gathering of the people to
the blefied Shiloh — That you may rejoice with me,
and help with your prayers at the throne of grace —
I thought it proper to acquaint you with fomething
of the like glorious work in this congregation — I do
not in this miffive, pretend to give you a full and
particular account of what the I^ord has done a-
L

146 K I L S Y T H

mongft us for fome time paft — In general, for about
a year hence, there has been an unufual ftirring and
feeming concern through this congregation, and fome
now and then falling under convictions — A clofer
attention to the word preached, and a receiving of it
with an apparent appetite, was by myfelf and others
obferved — Until the time the facrament of the Lord's
fupper was difpenfed here, which was the third Sab
bath of July laft, at which time, I think, our con
quering Redeemer made fome vifible inroads upon
the kingdom of Satan. I hope there are not a few,
both in this and other congregations, ihat can fay>
Thai God 'was in this place , and that they felt his power t
andfaiv his glory — But wiiatever the Lord was pleafed,
to fhed down of the influences of his Spirit upon that
folemn occafion, comparatively fpeaking, may be ac
counted but a day of fmall things, in refpecl of what
a gracious God, has been pleafed to do amongft us
fmce — I muft acknowledge, to the praife of our gra
cious God, that an unufual power hath attended the
word preached, every Sabbath-day fmce, few if any
Sabbaths having paired 'but fome have been awaken
ed, and particularly laft Lord's day, which, I hope
I may fay, was a day of the Son of man in this place,
for, befides the general concern that was feen in this
congregation, about eighteen perfons, which I came
to know of that night, were pricked at the heart, and
deeply wounded with the arrows of the Almighty,
and I expect to hear of a great deal more of them —
I have been very agreeably entertained with the vifits
of diftrefled fouls crying out for Chrift, and what
Jhall we do to be faved? And I may fay, That the
work of the law has been fevere, and outwardly no
ticeable upon all that I have converfed with, their
convictions have been deep, cutting, and abiding,
not (as we have formerly fcen) like a morning cloud
and early dew, that foon pa/eth away. And yet, I have
not obferved in any that I have fpoken with, the leaft

NARRATIVE. 147

tendency to defpair; but giving, fo far as I can judge*
Satisfying evidences, of a kindly work of the Spirit,
and the law acling the part of a fchoolmafter, lead
ing them to Chriit, in whom, I hope, a great many
of them are fafely landed, and have had their fouls
filled with joy and peace in believing, and fome
have received fuch a meafure of the joys of heaven,
that the narrow crazy veflel could hold no more — -
Though fome old people have been awakened, yet
this work is moft noticeable among the younger fort:
and fome very young (within twelve years of age)
have been obfervably wrought upon, and the fruits
are very agreeable, amongft others, their delight in
prayer, and their frequent meeting together for that
end. And they 'who have noticed them, have in
formed me, of their fpeaking in prayer, the womte.r-
ful things of God — As the Lord has been pleated
obfervably to own us in the public ordinances, and,,
to make us fee his goings in the fancluary; fo, I
think no lefs have we felt a down-pouring of his
Spirit, upon the occafion of our evening exercifes
upon Sabbath nights. For immediately after public
worfhip is over, fuch crowds of people come to the
manfe, as fill the houfe, and the clofe before^ the
doors, difcovcring a great thirft after the word, and
fuch an unufual concern in hearing of it, that their

O

mourning cries frequently crown my voice, fo that
I am obliged, frequently to flop, till they cornpofe
themfelves. And many on thtfe occafions fail un
der deep and abiding convictions. So that I am
taken up in dealing with them for fome hours after
the meeting is difmifled — Many here give fuch evi
dences of a faving real work of the Spirit, that to
call it into queftion, would put old experienced chrif-
tians to doubt of their own ftate, yea, to call in quef
tion the experiences of the faints recorded in fcrip-
ture. And yet there are here, as well as elfewhere,
who are contradiding and blafphemirtg, they are
L ^

M8 K I L S Y T H

obje&s of pity, and ought to be prayed for — I give
you this account of the Lord's work in this pariih
for your own private fatisfaclion, and of thofe with
you who may join with us, in prayer and praifep, to
our gracious God, who has done fuch great things
for us - We are mindful of you and your congre
gation, and of the work of God in other parts, not
only in public and in private, but in our praying fo-
cieties, feverals whereof have been of late erected in
this pariih, and many people flocking to them. We
expedl the like from you, and your people — That the
Lord may carry on his work with you and us, and
other parts of the land; and that he may fignally
countenance that folemn occafiori you have in view
next Lord's day, is the earnett defire and prayer of

Rev. and dear Brother ',

Tour affectionate Brothtr and
Servant in our deareft Lord,

M U T H I I*,!

Stpt. 28//J, 1742- 5

WILLIAM HALLET"

I received, upon the 2pth of October, a letter from
the fame worthy brother, giving a further account
of the progrefs of the good work at Muthil, and of
feveral other particulars, the knowledge whereof, I
judge, will be agreeable to many. It is as follow-
eth,

Rev. and very dear Brother,

" VOURS of the 1 7th inftant, I received upon the

1 2oth — By which I was exceedingly refrefhed,

with the account of the continuance, and progrefs

N A R R A T I V E. 145,

of the Lord's work in that plot of his vineyard,
whereof you have the paftoral charge — Thefe things
brought about with you, here, and tlfewhere, are the
doings of the Lord, and wonderful in our eyes, and
confidering, the almoft univerfal deadnefs, degene
racy, defpifing of gofpel ordinances, flighting the
ambafladors of Chrift, and the many other crying
abominations of the land; this reviving, this iur-
prifing vifit, may fill us with wonder and amaze
ment, and make us fay, When the Lord returned again
the captivity ef our Ziott ive •were like men that dream.
But his ivays are not as our ways. Glory to him, he
has feen our iuayst and is healing them.—\.\. gave me
much pleafure, to hear Mr. Porteous and fome of
my people, giving fuch an account of the work of
God with you, at your lad facrament — Such of my
flock as attended that folemn occafion, I hope, have
not loft their travel — About feven and twenty of
them all in a company coming home, were, by a
kind providence, overtaken upon the road, by Mr.
Porteous, Mrs. Erfldne, and Mr David hrfldne,
who by the blefling of the Lord, were made emi
nently ufeful to them. For fuch was the diftrefs of
many of them, that in all appearance they had lodg
ed in that defert place all night, if the Lord by means
of thefe inftruments, had not fent them fome fupport
and relief, fo much did their foul-diftrefs afFec.1: their
bodies, that they feemed not able to travel much fur
ther — I doubt not but it will give you like fatisfac-
tion, to be informed, that the fame good work upon
fouls, is daily advancing and going on in this parifli.
Evtry Sabbath-day, fince 1 wrote to you laft, I may
fay, to the glory of free grace, has bten a day of the
Son of man. The arrows of the Almighty King are
ftill flying thick amongfl us, and wounding the hearts
of his enemies, and laying them down, groaning at
the feet of the Conqueror, crying under a fenie of
guilt, and the frightful apprehenfions of wrath, and
L 3

K I L S Y T H

thirfling after a Saviour — For many months paft, I
have obferved, a general and unufual concern upon
the whole congregation, their clofe attendance upon
ordinances, though many of them be at a great dif-
tance, their hungry-like attention to the word, the
ferious and concerned like airs appearing in their
faces. Many being fo deeply affected in hearing, that
frequently a general found of weeping, through the
whole congregation ufes to rife fo high, that it much
drowns my voice. Their carriage and fpiritual con-
verfe in coming and going from public ordinances,
and the many prayers that are put up through this
parim — Thefe good and promifmg appearances, make
me, through the blefling of God upon his ordinances,
to expect yet greater things than thefe I have already
feen. — I told you in my laft, what multitudes of peo
ple attended our evening exercife upon Sabbath
nights. But now, though the day be fhort, I am
obliged to go to the kirk with them, where almoft
the whole congregation (which is very great) wait
and attend. Many of them not regarding the diffi
culty of travelling through a long dark moor, under
night: and a good number after they have heard a
lecture and two fermons, and the evening exercife,
ftay and retire to the fchool-houfe, and there fpend
fome hours in prayer, and the Lord has fignally
owned them, not only to their own mutual edifica
tion; but to the conviction of by-ftanders, and fuch
as have heard them without the wails of the houfe —
Our praying focieties are in a mod flouriming coiir
dition, and dill more members flocking to them;
their meetings are frequent, and the Lord is obferv-
ably preftnt with them— The meetings for prayer,
arnongft the young boys and girls, give me great fa-
tisfa6lion, one whereof began foon after the facra-
ment, and is now increafed to about the number of
twenty. Till of late they met in the town: but fe-
verals of them falling under fuch a deep concern,

NARRATIVE. 151

that I was fent for to fpeak with them, where I found
fome of them all in tears. Since that time (that I
may have them near me) I give them a room in the
manfe, where they meet every night. And O how
pleafant is it to hear the poor young lambs addreffing
themfelves to God in prayer, O with what fervour,
w^h what proper expreffions, do I hear them pour-
in;. ut their fouls to a prayer-hearing God; fo that
ftp.:., tig at the back of the door, 1 am often melted
into tears to hear them — We have another praying
fociety of young ones, lately ere£ted in another cor
ner of the pariih, where one Mr. Robertfon teaches
one of the charity-fchools — The young ones, of late,
defired his allowance to meet in the fchool-houfe for
prayer, which he very readily went into (for it is his
great pleafure to promote and encourage religion
both in young and old) and there about twenty of
them meet twice every week, though they have a
good way (many of them) to travel in the night-time.
— I may fay in general, that fuch a praying difpo-
fition as appears amongft this people, both young
and old, was never feen nor heard of before, which
gives me ground to expecl: more of divine influences,
to come down amongft us, for where the Lord pre
pares the heart, he caufes his ear to hear — As to the
pariih of Madderty, which you defire to be informed
anent; foon after the facrament at Foulis, a neigh
bouring parifti, fome few boys met in the fields for
prayer, and when obferved, wore brought to a
houfe, to whom, many others, both young and old
reforted fince, and are now, according to my infor
mation, in a very flourifhing condition — This Pre£-
bytery is refolved to divide themfelves into focieties
for prayer, for the progrefs of this bleffed work, and
to have frequent meetings for this end — What Perth
prefbytery hath done, I have no certain account,
only, I heard what you feem to have been informed
anent — I will accept of it as a great favour, to be

L 4

IS* K I L S Y T H

allowed a frequent correfpondence with you, that we
may be mutually informed what the Lord is doing
amongft us, and thereby be excited to more diligence,
in prayer and praifes — I am afraid that my laft let-?
ter to you— -wants that politenefs and exaftnefs,
that is proper for a public view; but if the publifhing
of it may contribute any thing to the ipreading of
the Redeemer's praifes, I allow you to make it a part
of your Narrative, though the doing of it may leave
fome reflection upon me — I hope, though otherwife
unacquainted, we (hall daily meet at the throne of
grace in prayer. That this little cloud, that at firft
appeared but like a man's hand in the Weft of Scot
land, may fpread over the whole land, and fend down
a plentiful rain to water the whole of the Lord's in^
heritance amongft us — That the pleafure of the Lord,
may more and more profper in your hand, is the
earnefl prayer of

Rev. and dear Brother ,

Your moft affectionate Brother and
Servant in our deareft Lord)

WILLIAM HALLET:>

Before I proceed to the next Article, to which an
Appendix is defigned, that will require more time
and leifure than I have at prefent, to put materials
belonging to it in order, I (hall make up this print
•with fome. of the Atteftations given to this work, by
fome brethren, who having been for fome time here,
were witnefles to it, and had much opportunity to
converfe with feverals of every fort, who were the
fubjeds of it.

NARRATIVE. 135

Atteftation by the Rev. Mr. Gillefpie> Minifter of
ihe gofpel at Carnock.

" TTAVING lately been at Kilfyth, for fome time,
•"• with pleafure and thankfulnefs I did obferve,
what in my humble apprehenfion, is a faving work
of the Spirit of God, upon the fouls of a great many
perfons of different ages, with whom I particularly
converfed, brought under concern within thefe few
months. Their different exercife, as related to me,
appeared folid, fcriptural, and entirely agreeable
with the fentiments of learned judicious divines,
whom I have heard treat the fubje£l of converfion,
or whofe writings on that head I have perufed, I
found what I take to be evidence of love to all who
bear the image of Chrift, and defire of the falvation
of others, prevalent in the minds of them who have
attained in fome meafure peace in believing; and in
fome a confiderable degree of fpiritual joy. By what
I can judge, the uncommon fymptoms with which
the trouble of fome is attended, do flow from the
plear and deep difcovery they receive of the evil of
fin, and the danger and mifery of one's being with
out intereft in thd Saviour. I faw perfons inftantly
feized with them in a very affecting way, and entirely
relieved upon attaining the well grounded hope of
being reconciled to God through Chrift. They feem-
ed generally afraid of a miftake, and of taking com
fort without fufficient reafon, and difpofed to weigh
their experience in the balance of fcripture. Mod
of them perceived and groaned under the evil of un
belief; and the more bright views of the fovereignty
and riches of grace, and the glory of Chrift any were
bleffed with, the more vile were they in their own

K I L S Y T H

eyes, on account of fin that had crucified the Savi
our, an expreflion almoft all of them uTed. I could
•with all freedom fay more, and defcend to particu
lars in different kinds, was it needful.

July 20/&, 1742.

THOMAS GILLESP1E."

Rev. and dear 5/>,

** O INGE my return from your laft facrament at

*~* Kiifyth, and that in your neighbouring parifli
of Cumbernauld, I cannot but fay, that the reflection
on thefe delightful feafons of communion with God,
gives me a peculiar joy and fatisfatUon, and affords
matter of praife and thankfgiving to his holy name.

That the fo much talked of extraordinary concern
about religion in your pariih, and in many other
places, is neither the effect of mechanifm nor delu-
iion, but of the gracious operation of the Holy
Spirit of God in convincing and converting finners
to himfelf has, I think, been proved. A fufficient
evidence hereof has been laid before the world in
your Preface and Narratives, the attefted Narratives
of the like gracious work at Cambuflang, and Mr.
Webfter's letter to his friend on the fubjeft — I have
feen alfo Mr. Halley's letters, giving account of the
merciful vifit that God has made to his parifli.

That there is not only a great vifible outward re
formation of the manners of your people, but a real
happy change, on the temper of their hearts, and
their whole conversation, and that multitudes of
once wicked finriers, are now minding the one thing
needful, and are taught, by the grace of God, to live
foberly> righteoujly and godly in this prefent •world.

An evidence of all this is contained in the above-
mentioned papers, and the concurring teflimony of

NARRATIVE. 155

many other worthy minifters and chriftians, fuch as
is not to be born clown by the mockeries of the pro
fane, nor the fpiteful invectives of angry and pre
judiced men — To difbelieve and ridicule fuch an
tvidence, is highly unreafonable; nay, I think ex
ceeding dangerous, as tending to weaken human
testimony and moral evidence, if not to banim. it
from amongft us.

I do not therefore propofe to enlarge on the proofs
of this extraordinary difpenfation of God's grace in
fo many places of this church — That I take to be
needlefs, efpecially from fo obfcure and inconfidera-
ble a hand as mine — But as many, for whom I am
bound to have a tender regard, have been defirous
to know my apprehenfions concerning thefe fpiritual
exercifes in your parim and others around you — I
readily embrace this opportunity to declare, that
upon trial and diligent obfervation, for feveral days,
in Cumbernauld and your parifh, I found the good
report concerning thefe people to be ftr icily and lite
rally true, only that the one half had not been told,
and that the reality exceeded all defcription.

Oh! The ferioufnefs and reverence, the feeming
devotion, and engagednefs in the great work they
meet about, that appears in every face in your public
affemblies for divine worihip — It flruck me at firft
fight, it is obvious to all: it cannot mifs to be help
ful and quickening to the miniilers that are to bring
the mefldge of God to them — Sojne few perfons in
the audience, I obferved crying out and fainting in
the congregation, when they heard the word of God,
and as often it was the mercies as the terrors of the
gofpel, at which they were moved — I know a great
many objections have been made againft the goodneis
of the work on this account — But befides that there
are a far greater number of ferious fouls againit
whom there is no fuch objection — It is plain that
thefe others caqnot help it. They have fuch awful

*5<5 K I L S Y T H

views of eternal things, particularly of the tremen
dous evil of their fins, and the danger of an uncon
verted date, that it is like to overwhelm them — Nor
need this feem ftrange to fuch as duly confider what
is faid of a wounded fpirit, and the cafe of thofe
penitents, A&s ii 37. who when they heard the
charge brought againft them, of being the murderers
of Chrift, were pricked at the heart, and faid to
the apotiles, What foall tue do. And I think to hear
a whole multitude of three thoufand faying this to
gether, would amount to a pretty loud cry — This is
generally underftood to be an accomplishment of the
prophecy, Zech. xii. io. That they Jhould look on him
ivhcm they had pierced^ and mourn as for afirjl born. And
like, the mourning of Hudadnmmon in the valley of Me-
giddon. Which was certainly accompanied with moft
bitter lamentation- — Through the whole land. And
as for the other forrow, to which the grief of thefe
penitents is compared, to wit, That for a firjl-born>
All know, that it is fo deep and fo unfeigned, that
parents of the greateft courage and refolution, have
been made to cry out of it moft bitterly — There is
an inftance of fuch crying, for the death of the firft-
born, Exod. xi. 6. as never had a parallel before, nor
will the like be heard till the founding of the laft
trumpet — It hath been faid, That this cannot but
create a difturbance to the worfhip of God, I think
it produces a contrary effect. It is a mean of en
gaging the attention, and concern of their fellow-
worfhippers, and alfo of exciting a reverence, ten-
dernefs, and fuch a defirable liveiinefs of affections
in the minifters, as is rather a help, than a hinder-
ance, to them in their facred miniilra^ions. So I
found it to be, I can fay for myfelf. But there is
no end of objections, the moft material have all been
anfwered by you, Mr. Webfter, arid others who have
wrote on the fubjecft Thefe 1700 years there has
been a cavilling humour againft every faft and every

NARRATIVE. 157

dodlrine of religion, and though we arc far from put
ting thefe appearances of God in this church on a
level 'with the truth of chriftianity itfelf, yet we may-
learn from the bitterneis with which this good work
has been oppofed, not to wonder that a cavilling
humour mould itill prevail.

But, Sir, )ou know, I had particular accefs to
converfe with numbers of thefe perfous, who have
been awakened to a fenfe of religion, and particularly
when you was privately examining, and admitting
the communicants This gave me a fpecial oppor
tunity, to learn fome ufeful leffbns from your great
tendernefs, and painfulnefs in that matter. And alfo,
of receiving full fatisfa&ton from the people thein-
felves, as to the nature of that good work, that was
carrying on in their fouls. And now, I can fay,
That, fo far as I am capable to judge from the word
of God, their fpiritual exercifes were agreeable to the
fcripture doctrine concerning the method of a fin-
ner's (I mean an adult perfon's) converfion and re
generation.

In general, their conviclions anfwer the defcrip-
tions of the Tick and fenfible Tinners, whom Chrift
came to call to repentance, The weary and heavy laden^
•whom he invites to come unto him for re/I to their fouls.

Indeed we know, there are various meafures and
degrees of conviction in the children of God, fomer
may have been early, and habitually %holy perfons,,
and watchful againd fin, and who never had, nor
needed to have, the experience of fuch deep con
victions and awakenings, as are needful in the bring-'
ing of many others from darknefs to light, and from,
the power of Satan to God. Even in thefe too, who
are thus converted in their advanced years, there is
an obfervable variety in the holy fcriptures. Such I
obferved in thefe happy perfons I converfed with. It
is too deep for us to pretend to afcerlain the propor
tions, or give the reafons of God's dealings in thU

158 K I L S Y T H

mariner. He giveth no account of his matters. Bu£
without pretending to be wife above what is written;
from the converfatiori I had for feveral days with
thefe perfons, comparing their cafes with the word
of Godj I may venture to obferve, That convictions
may be proportioned as to the meafure and continu
ance of them, in fome, to the greatnefs of their fins
and the wickednefs of their former lives; in others,
to their degrees of knowledge about the fcheme of
falvation, and the way of relief by faith in Chrift Je-
fus; in others (which may be the laft for ought we
know in younger perfons or lefs enormoufly wicked)
convictions may be proportioned to fome fpecial tvi-
als or conflicts, or fome other great purpofes that
God defigns them for in the chriftian life. As we
may argue, at leaft by analogy, from the cafe of the
apoftle Paul, concerning whom it has been remarked,
That God laid his foundation as lew as the gates of
hell, that he might raife a fuperftrucl:ure to the third
heavens.

Yet without pretending further to account for this
variety. The fed is certain, that thefe convictions
however diverfified, have in many now happily iifuecl
in true repentance towards God, and faith towards
our Lord Jefus Chrift. And now they have many
of them attained to reft and confolation to their
wounded and afflicted fouls. And the method of
attaining to this is every way agreeable to the ac
count that is given hereof in the holy fcriptures, /<?
wit, By the humbled and convinced fmners receiving
Chrift in all his offices, and reding on him alone for
falvation.

And the evidences they were able to give of this,
are the moft fatisfying, to wit, an unfeigned godly
forrow for their fins, as ingratitude and diftionour-
able to God, piercing to the dear Son, and grieving
to the Holy Spirit. That now they felt an ardent
love to Chrift in their fouls, a delight in him, aa

NARRATIVE. 159

King to fubdue their enmity and corruption, and
reign over them, as well as a High Prieft to free
them from wrath and condemnation. Now fin was
their averfion and horror, and to be holy and ferve
God, their delight and endeavour, through the af-
fiftance of his Holy Spirit. Now, they had the ex
perience of love to their neighbours, to all men.
And many of them fpoke of a willingnefs, if duty
called to it, to lay down their lives for Chriit, and
to promote the good of their brethren.

And how edifying and inftruc'ling at the fame
time was it, to obferve the humility and reverence,
the teachablenefs and defire of inftruftion with which
thefe people fpoke on all occafions. Sometimes melt
ed in tears when they thought on what once they
were, and were telling what now God had done for
their fouls. How ravifhing and delightful to hear
fome of thefe happy perfons fpeak forth the praifes
of redeeming love, and the diftinguiflhing mercy of
God to them. Their tongues, like the pen of a
ready writer, when they fpoke concerning the King.
Speaking in an elevated and exalted flrain their ad
miration and gratitude, the fenfe of divine love filling
them with fuch joy unfpeakable and jull of glory, as we
faw, was like to overpower and overwhelm their frail
natures, making them exprefs a defire to depart, if
it was the will of God, and join the company of the
redeemed in fmging falvation to God and the Lamb,,
after the manner of heaven.

Surely God was in yonder place, and it feemed to
be no other than the houfe of God, and the gate of
heaven. Many I doubt not can fay fo from their
fweet experience. How greatly are you Sir, and
your brethren around you, indebted to the free grace
of God, that has made you the happy inftruments
of fuch a blefled change. Oh, let us ftill have your
prayers, that thefe divine influences may reach us,,
and all the corners cf the land. 1 (hall only add,.

i6a K I L S Y T H

That furely mockers and gainfayers of this work are
to be pitied. What a mournful confideration is it>
that fo many, of our feceding brethren (good men it
is to be hoped in the main) mould yet be found join
ing the company of the profane, in reproaching thefe
goings of our God in his fancluary. May the Lord
in mercy open their eyes, and ihew them their mif-
takes; and lay a reflraint on their tongues, which
fome of them have opened in fo daring a manner.
May the Lord endow them with his Spirit, and par
ticularly with thefe his fruits in righteoufnefs, hu
mility and love, that fhine fo bright in the perfons
t«ey have fo oddly mifreprefented. This would be
a happy mean yet of healing the breach, wide as it
is, and uniting us together in the Spirit, in the bond
of peace. This is eafy for God. Has he not done
greater things than thefe even among you? Let us
not give over praying for fuch a defirable event.
Efpecially let us continue to pray to God, and give
him no reft till lie eftablifh and make Jerufalern a
praife in the whole earth. / am,

Rev. and dear Sirf
Tcur affectionate Brother and
Servant in the Lordy

LINLITIIGOJF, ")
Nov. $th, 1742. 5

ROBERT SPEIRS."

The above from the Rev. Mr. Robert Speirs,
minifter of the gofpel at Linlithgow, direcled to
the Rev. Mr. James Robe, minifter of the gofpel
at Kilfvth.

NARRATIVE. 161

The following from the Rev. Mr. James Ogilvie,
one of the minifters at Aberdeen, to Mr. James
Robe.

Rev. and very dear Sir,
" ACCORDING to my promife at parting, this

•^*" ferves to acquaint you, that in the Lord's
goodnefs I reached this place in fafety, but much
fooner than I expected to have done when I left it,
which you know was owing to my Rev. brother
Mr. Blair's indifpofition, which made it neceflary,
for him and me allb, on his account, to get home as
foon as poflible.

Not only my own inclination, but fome things
alfo in providence in this city, and the defires of
many of the inhabitants here obliged me to under
take a journey to your country at no very agreeable
time of the year. I went that I might witnefs for
myfelf, as the Lord mould give me accefs, and de
clare to others what he is now carrying on amongft
your people, and in other congregations in your
neighbourhood., While I. was with you, I had the
pleafure not only of the mod particular accounts
from yourfelf of this great work, but fpoke alfo with
a good many of your people, fome of them, I muffc
own, gave fuch p leaf ant accounts both of their di-
ftreflcs, and deliverance from them, as fully fatisfied
me, and I believe would do fo to any elfe, that the
Lord has done great things for them, whereof they
were glad, and had juft caufe to be fo. Their ac
counts they gave with fo much thankfulnefs and
humility, as left no room with me to quellion their
fincerity. They feemed to be walking in the joy of
the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghoft,
giving all the glory to his great name, and free grace,
to whom alone it was due, and (to ufe the words of
M

K I L S Y T H

one of them as irear as I can) their only ground of
doubt was, If tlxy could believe > that the high and lofty
One would J^oop fo /ow, as to regard pet font fo •worthless
and fo vile, as they Jlill faiv thctnfelves to be. Others
of them were ilill in diftrefs, and refufed to be com
forted, fo far from fnatching at thefe too foon. It
gave me a particular fatisfadion, to obferve that
neither you nor they laid any manner of ftrefs on
thefe impreffbns, which their inward joys or griefs
had made on their bodies: you both agreed (and I
think mod juftly) in afcribing thefe to their bodily
conftitutions, in which you efte&ually put to filence
thefe who would reproach this great work, with be
ing of a kin to what fome years ago appeared with
thefe called Camizars. Every one knows the ufual
eirech of grief or joy, on the bodies of thofe who
have thefe in any uncommon degree. I am myfelf,
fmce I left you, as well as before, informed of a good
many in (lances this way, which would do much,
were they known, to prevent a good many of thefe
reproaches which are thrown on this great work,
becaufe of thefe. But then, I doubt not in the lead,
but Satan will be ready enough to catch all opportu
nities from thefe, and therefore (hall not queftion
but you will be on your watch, both to guard againft,
and detect impoftors, as well as to be careful to en
courage thefe who are truly by grace reached and
awakened. — Where thefe bodily diftreffes do not
proceed from a juft fenfe of fin, and its awful con-
fequences, and God-dimonouring nature, or from
juit and fcriptural difcoveries of the great Redeemer
in his fullnefs and glory, I would be apt to fufpedl
them myfelf, and to do what I could to difcourage
them with the people, and fo I am perfuaded will
you. If any thing unufual fhould happen to perfons
in thefe bodily diflrefles (which I hope will in mercy
be prevented) that can be no objection to any who
think juftly againft what may be really the Lord's

NARRATIVE. 163

work with others. Satan's intereft has in your
country, I hope by grace, got a great ftroke, and
pure and undefiled religion is advancing, and no
doubt the malice of that deceiver, who is fkilful to
deftroy, will be at work, and minifters cannot be
enough on their guard; and as you are not ignorant
of his devices, fo I doubt not but your guard againft,
arid care to detect them, will be accordingly. I mall
be fond to know, in return to this, how matters go
with you, and in your neighbourhood, aad to hear
of our Redeemer's growing victories. I return my
hearty thanks to yourfelf and Mrs. Robe, for your
kindnefs while I itayed "at your houfe, and aflure
you, that with my bed wiflies to you, and all that is
yours, I fincerely am with great efteem,

Rev* and very dear Sir,

Tour m'jft aff"e£Iiotiatey tho' unworthy
and obliged Brother and Servant

in our dear Lord)
ABERDEEN,')
Oftober 2 7//>, 1 7 4 2 . 3

JAMES OGIL7IE:*

The following Atteftation is by Mr. James Young, f
preacher of the gofpel, who hath been here and in
other parifhes of the neighbourhood fince the begin
ning of this work, and was greatly helpful in carry
ing it on, both by preaching and converting with the
diftrefled. Directed to the Rev. Mr. James Robe,
minifter of the gofpel at Kilfyth.

Rev. Sir,

" TN anfwer to your demand, I fend you an account
A of my plain fentiments upon the work that has
appeared in Kilfyth, and the bounds around, for
M ?.

K I L S Y T H

fome months pad, which, after many trials and con-
verfes, I have had with thefe awakened perfons, I
cannot but confider as a great and glorious appear
ance of God in his fan&uary, and look on thefe
places as a field which the Lord has blefled, and
plentifully rained down divine influences upon:
which charitable judgment I have formed upon ma
ny inftances, fome' of which I mall run over, fo far
as I can recollect them at the time.

The mod part of thefe perfons have appeared in
great diftrefs and agony of foul, under a fenfe of
their fins, and fears of the wrath to come; and while
they have been deeply ftruck with the malignity and
demerit, numbers and aggravations of their actual
fins, as abominable to God, and deferving his endlefs
indignation. They have been led deep into a view
of their original guilt and pollution, and abafed
themfelves and repented in duft and afhes, when
they have looked to the rock whence they were hewn,
and to the hole of the pit, whence they were digged:
but efpecially unbelief in Chrift, and negledting the
great falvation, have been the chief of all their fins,
as crucifying the Lord of glory afreJJj, and putting him
to an open ftjame. And great have their forrows, and
melting their complaints been upon this account,
looking to him whom they have pierced and mourning.
To them under fuch exercifes Chrift Jefus has feem-
ed as the chief among ten thoufand, and altogether lovely y
and the complete falvation through his atoning blood
and righteoufnefs, and by his fanclifying Spirit, as
the one thing needful, and all the defire of their Jouls —
To fave not only from hell and wrath, but alfo from
fin, to purify their defiled natures, and juftify their
guilty fouls, to form them after the image of God,
as well as to advance them to the privileges of his
children, and to make them pure and holy in all
manner of converfation, and meet for the heavenly
inheritance, as well as to raife them to this bleiTed

NARRATIVE. 165

hope, and receive them at laft into eternal life. And
how anxious have their concerns been, and panting
their fupplications — Lord I believe, kelp mine unbelief
— I am ftout-hearted and far from righteoufnefs,
caufe me incline mine ear, give me a heart to come
unto thee, that I may have life — and make us a •willing
people in the day of thy power.

Some have been very ignorant under the firft
awakenings, and afterwards, through the blefling of
God, have made a good proficiency in the know
ledge of Chrift, and the myfteries of his gofpel:
fuch have been evidently taught of God, and in-
ftrucled by the great Apoftle and High Prieft, •who
has companion on the ignorant, and them that have gone
wt of the 'way.

Others through the piercing imprefRoris of their
fins, and mocking terrors of the divine wrath fet in
array againft them, and difturbing their minds and
difordering their bodies, could not at firft, but after
wards have given very rational and diftincl: accounts
of the grounds and methods of their awakenings,
fuch as diftinguim them from being the refult of
mechanifm or diabojical influence, who fince have
been fettled in the faith of Jefus, and arrived at
ftrong confolation. Nay, fome that could not read,
nor had been taught to read, being now in old age,
that upon the firft convictions, have applied to the
means of inftruction and with remarkable fuccefs do
grow in the knowledge of Chrift, as they have come
to the faith of him.

I have feen fome filled with all joy and peace in
believing, and abounding in hope through the power
of the Holy Ghoft, and when afleed a reafon of the
hope that is within them, have been able to give it
with meeknefs and fear, upon diftincl: fcripture cha
racters, and rejoicing in Chrift Jefus. They have
no confidence in the flefti, and rejoice with fear and
trembling, remembering that they are yet in the body.9
M 3

1 66 K I L S Y T H

difturbed with indwelling fin, and expofed to mani
fold temptations: to fuch the mortification as well
as the pardon of fin, and the brightnings of the di-
virie image, as well as the uplifting of the divine fa
vour upon their fouls, and holinefs and joy in the
Holy Ghoft, are the equally fure fprings of their
afTured peace, and flrong confolation: with fome of
fuch I have fpoken at other times, who after fuch
bleiTed attainments, have funk into fpiritual defpon-
dencies, through the hidings of the divine favour,
and the frefh impreilions of their guilt; and while
they have been ready to acknowledge the juftice of
the difpenfation, and confefs and lament their own
fins as the provoking cauies of it, have fung both of
mercy and judgment, and come to this good aflu-
rance of faith in God their Saviour, to trull in him
though he Jhotild jlay themy to trujl in the name of the
Lord, and flay themfilves on their Godt from 'whom
comes all their expectation, and in 'whom all their fal~>
nation lies.

I have feen fome young ones under deep and fharp
convictions of their finful and guilty ftate, which
they have exprefled in very feeling and melting lan-»
guage, and while they have been early feeking wif-
dom and her ways, have found her and felt them to
be pleafantnefs and peace: the love of their efpoufals
has been richly recompenfed with the confolations of
God, which are not fmall; and having firft fought
the kingdom of God, have felt it in their fweet ex
perience to bs Rigkieoufnefs and peace > and joy in the
Holy Ghcjl : out of the months of babes and fuellings
God has perfefttd praifes to himfelf, to Jlill the enemy
and the avenger.

But not to enlarge on more inftances, I fhall only
mention this, which I have all along obferved to the
honour of this work: while fome have been awaken
ed reading the fcriptures or fome devotional books;
pthers by private converting with another, others by

NARRATIVE. 167

a particular recoiled ion of part of a fermon heard,
fome time after; others by being prefent at fome
chriftian fellowfliips for prayer. And many have
had a great and ferious concern hanging on their
minds for fome time, before it has unavoidably broke
forth into fome public profellion: yet in the preach
ing of the gofpel, the arrows of conviction have (tuck
deep and (harp in the hearts of the moil part of them :
and if awakenings have not firft been produced by
this means, at leaft they have been increafed, and
carried on unto a found converfion to God, and the
faith of Chrift : this being the power of God to eve
ry one that believes.

Sir, I am glad to underfland from feveral good
hands, that the goodnefs of their lives, juftifies the
truth of their profeiTions: that befides their pundual
attendance on, and ferious application to the public
inftitutions of divine worfhip, and their frequent and
ftated obfervance of chriftian fellowships, as they
have opportunity; they likewife have a fpecial care
of the duties of fecret devotion, and habitually iludy
to have a confclence void of offence^ both toivurdx God
and man, and denying all ungodi'msfs and worldly lufls^
live foberly, righteoitjl^ and godly in this prefent world*
making conference of obferving their Rational and
relative duties; and attending to both tables of the
divine law. I pray they may adorn the doctrine of
God their Saviour in ail things, an -\ have a conver-
fation becoming the gofpel of Ciiriit, being rilled
with all the fruits of the Spirit, which are in all
goodnefs, righteoufnefs and truth, and being fled fa ft
and unmoveable, and always abounding therein tj
the end of their life, to give a more fenfible and
ftriking teftimony to the word of his grace, con
vincing an infidel and thoughtlefs generation, that
there is a Holy Ghoft attending this gofpel, whence
it is heard as the voice of God, and not of man, and
becomes tie power and <wifdom of G:d to the falvatiox
M 4

1 68 K I L S Y T H

of thofe that believe, and filencing the clamours of
others, who rafhly fpeak evil of the right ways of
the Lord, and difown the (lately fteps of his majefty
in the fan£luaries of our Zion. May the Lord grant
you many more feals of your miniftry, that many
may be your crowns of joy and rejoicing in the day
of his coming; and fpread this cloud of the divine
influences far and wide, fo that from the outmoft
ends of the earth, fongs of praife may be heard,
even glory to the righteous.

I am,

Reverend Sir,

Your moft humble Servant,
F A L K I R A-, }
Oftober }Jt, 1742. S

JAMES TOUNG."

The following Letter, directed to Mr. James Robe,
by the Rev. Mr. David Blair, minifter of the gofpd
at Brechin.

Rev. and dear Sir,

" '""PHE accounts of the extraordinary work in your
•*• congregation and neighbourhood, having reach
ed, even unto us, I determined with myfelf, to have
all the fatisfa£lion anent an event fo uncommon, that
the nature and circumftances of the thing could pof-
fibly admit of, and therefore, in Oclober laft, under
took a journey your length. What I faw, and heard,
and found, upon the beft inquiry I was able to make,
during my flay with you, I (hall now relate honeftly,
and without any thing of party-zeal, which I am
afraid too much influences the fentiments and con-

NARRATIVE. 169

duel of many at this day, to the great prejudice of
the common caufe of chriftianity.

As you was pleafed to invite the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie
and me, to preach both on the Lord's day and Mon
day thereafter, I could obferve many hearing the
word, with fuch attention, tendernefs, and fo much
of a melting frame, as I had never feen with fuch
numbers, and fcarce with any, in all my life. Some
on the Sabbath evening, when you was concluding
the work of the day, with an addrefs to the audience,
I heard utter the moft bitter cries, and fuch as, I
own, filled me with fomething of a horror and fur-
prife, and feemed to befpeak a great deal of bitter-
nefs and remorfe in the minds of thefe from whom
they came. The fame evening I faw many under
bodily convulfions, but with thefe I faw more af-
fecled, and particularly a child about fix or feven
years of age, on the Monday, which did not a little
raife my wonder.

On Monday, after fermons, I had a particular con-
verfation with a good many of thefe, who had been
fome way or other affe&ed under the miniftry of the
word. Some of thefe I found under (harp convic
tions of fin, and of divine wrath due to them upon
the account of it, and feemed to walk in darknefs,
and to fee no light; moft of thefe could tell me, what
was the word that firft reached them, and awakened
their guilty fears, and that an intereft in Jefus Chrift,
as it was the only thing that could bring them to
folid peace, fo it was the thing of all others they
moft defired. In your houfe, and at the fame time,
I talked with others, who had got an outgate from
their diftrefs: and indeed the account they gave of
thcmfelves to me, was moft fatisfying. They could
tell the text of fcripture firft proved the mean of
their awakening, the words of promife fupported and
kept them from finking into defpondency in the time
of their trouble, that gave them fome good hope

170 K I L S Y T H

through grace, and encouraged them to look to an
exalted Prince and Saviour for relief. They could
tell the time and the duty wherein they thought they
were helped actually to clofe with Jefus, found their
tears difpelled, and the comforts of the Holy Ghoft
flowing in upon their minds. This laft fort appeared
to me to be very humble and felf-denied, jealous over
themfelves, left they mould fall away, make {hip-
wreck of faith, and a good conference, and become
a difgrace to their profeflion. They fpoke of the
grace of God, and of the love of Chrift, with ftich,
marks of wonder and admiration, of love and affec
tion, as feemed to me moft uncommon, and did ex-
prefs a moft heavenly and fpiritual frame of foul.
They feemed moft ardently to v/ifh the advancement
of Chad's kingdom and intereft in the world, and
that all men might partake of his grace, to the fav-
ing of their fouls. They profeffed themfelves the
fmcere lovers of all who, in truth, love the Lord Je
fus, even fuch of them as might differ from them in
fome lefHrr points, and feemed to queftion the reality
of the Lord's dealings with them.

Befides the fatisfa£tion I had from this interview
with the people themfelves, the account I had of the
Lord's dealings with them from your written Jour
nal, and which you took from their own mouths,
puts it beyond all doubt with me, that God indeed
was among you. From this I faw that the conver-
fions which obtain with you, are far from being fud-
den tranfitions from horror and fear, to immediate
ferenity and joy, that they are, on the contrary, a
work carried on diRinclly and by degrees, the Spirit
now convincing them of the evil of one fin, and af
terwards of another, now difcovering to them fome
of Chrift's mediatory excellencies, and by and by
others of them, anent which formerly they either
knew little, or were little affected with what know
ledge of them they had, and after feveral intermedi
ate acts determining their clofure with a Saviour*

NARRATIVE. 171

Upon the whole, my judgment of the work, is,
That it is of God-, and as this is my fentiment, I
cannot but wifii it to profper in your hands, and that
from you it may fpread, till it has reached to every
congregation in the land, even to thefe who now
regard it no otherwife than delufion, that they alfo
may fee the falvaticn of our Qod, and may join with
us in bleffing the Lord, who begins to vifit a guilty
land, and to heal its backflidings, unlefs we, like
the foolifh Gadarenes, lay an impediment in the
way, by difregarding the work of his hands, and
imputing it to a diabolical influence. I am with
much regard,

Rev. and dear Sir,

Tour ctjfeftionate Brother y

and mojl humble Sfrvant,
B R E C H 1 N, 7

Dec. l$thy 1742. 5

DAFID BLAIR:*

The next Atteftation is by Mr. M'Laurin, one of
the minifters of Glafgow, being part of a Letter
from him to a correfpondent at a diftance, and of
fered to be inferted here.

Rev. and dear Brother,

" T Now fend you the continuation of the Kilfyth
Narrative, and know that it will not be difogree-
able to you, that I write to you at the fame °time
fome remarks I have had occafion to make on that
good work; being the fame which I intend to offer,
fuch as they are, as my Atteftation to it; judging
myfelf under obligations to contribute my endeavours

172 K I L S Y T H

to do juftice to it, from the opportunites I have had
of a more particular knowledge of it; not only by
correfpondence with the writer of the Narrative, and
conferences with him and neighoouring minifters, of
whofe congregations, as favoured with the like good
work, he gives fome account; but alfo by intimate
converfation with feverals of the fubje&s of that
work themfelves, about their religious impreflions,
and with others about their practice; which, as you
know well, are the chief means of enabling us to
form any judgment of matters of this kind.

By fuch means of information, I have had that
fatisfaclion that could be expected by one not redd
ing, but bellowing the pains I have mentioned,
among that people; that the work in general is fuch
as the publimed Narrative reprefents it; and fo like
that at Cambuflang, that in defcribing the one, peo
ple may juflly be (aid, as to the moft material things,
to give a defcription of both.

More particularly, I had the fatisfa&ion to obferve,
in converting with thefe people, very promifing in-
ftances of fuch fuitable impreffions both of the hate-
fulnefs and danger of fin, joined with ardent defire
of relief from its guilt and power, in the way the
gofpel reveals, as could not but give encouragement
to expect, through the grace of God, a happy iflue
in due time: convictions that were not flight and
fuperficial; but very deep and penetrating, and much
refembling thefe recorded in fcripture, as in Acls i.
37. Not merely general and confufed, but diftincl:
and particular, at lead gradually becoming fuch; ex
tending to fins of heart and life, original and actual,
and againft both tables of the law: much forrow of
foul both for the alienation of the unrenewed heart
from the living God, and for corrupt paflions con
trary to the love men owed to one another-, as to
which laft, I obferved evidences, not eafily to be for
gotten, of the fevered remorfe for malice formerly

NARRATIVE. 173

indulged, plainly implying no fmall admiration that
the gofpel-oft^rs of remillion (hould extend to fo
hateful an evil.

I had occafion to obferve and compare the new
convictions of perfons who perhaps were never
known to have any confiderable concern about reli
gion before; and the peculiar bitternefs attending
remorfe for backiliding into bad courfes, after fome
profeffion of religion and concern about it in for
mer times: producing fhame ana confufion of face,
and indeed no wondet, to which might be well ap
plied the words in Pfal. xl. 1 2. Nor could it but
be very affe&ing to hear the accounts which a certain
backflider, but I hope a returning one, gave of the
diftrefs his confcience laboured under, when awa
kened to a fenfe of his aggravated apoftacy; as par
ticularly how, when intending to fing in family wor-
fhip, the firft eight lines of a certain pfalm (it was
the hundred and fecond) he found his heart too
much overwhelmed to make it out: being overpowered
with a fenfe of his unworthinefs, as I heard himfelf
tell it, to take the words of that pfalm in his month.

The convictions, I obferved among thefe people,
behoved to appear the more promifing on account
of their being directed by apprehenfions of the fpiri-
tuality of the divine law, as extending to the rooted
difpofitions of the heart: and it was very fatisfying
to obferve careful improvement made of directions
to particular felf-fearching, by going through the
feveral commandments of the law, in order, by di
vine afliftance, to difcover and recollecl: the evils of
heart or life, or both, againft them all, by which the
depravity of the unregenerate heart exerts and ma-
nifefts itfelf, with diverfity of circumftances, in dif
ferent perfons.

Both in this, and other corners, where the like
good work has appeared, it has given particular fa-
tisfaclion, to obferve peoples forrow for fin fo flrong-

174 K I L S Y T H

ly influenced by other motives than mere dread of
punifhment, not excluding the regard due to that
likewife; even by an ingenuous fenfe of the evil of
(in, as an offence againft fo juft, fo holy, fo gracious
a God; and fo compaflionate a Redeemer; fo that
their convictions appeared to be happy accomplifh-
ments of the promife in Zech. xii. 10. It was indeed
their looking to him who was pierced for their fins that
feemed chiefly to make them mourn for them.

If there were fome whofe forrow for fin feemed
to want, at lead for ibme time at firft, this laft and
perhaps fome of the other above-mentioned charac
ters; it was encouraging to obferve, at lead, a laud
able ingenuity in acknowledging fuch defeats; joined
with a hopeful docility in hearkening to proper in-
ilru&ions in order to proficiency, by God's blefling,
as to more juft impreffions of the evil of fin, and of
the excellency of the appointed remedy.

In perufing the Narrative, you will eafily obferve,
that it is far from fpeaking of thofe who have on this
occafion been brought under fome convictions of iin
and concern about falvation, as if all of them ought
to be confidered as real converts; or had already
given fuch evidences of that happy change, as the
nature of the thing admits: but only fpeaks thus of
a goodly number of them. And as the Author, who
is a ftranger to you, is one whom I have had the ad
vantage of being particularly acquainted with, for a
long tract of time; this feems, to demand it of me,
as a piece of juflice due to him and his public la
bours, on this occafion, to give you what aflurance
my teflimony, on fo long acquaintance, is capable of
giving, not only of his probity in narrating facts;
but alfo of his caution in making deductions from
them: he being far from precipitancy in building
fuch favourable conclufions, as fome parts of his
Narrative contain, on too (lender grounds: of which,
particular, and I think fatisfying proofs might be
mentioned.

NARRATIVE. 175

As I fpent fome time in that corner, not only in
May laft, when this work was but beginning to ap
pear; but alfo in the months of July and October
following, aflifting at the adminiftration of the Lord's
fupper at Kiifyth, as I have been in ufe to do yearly
of a long time; this could not but give me opportu
nity to observe the great alteration to the better, in
the ftate of religion in that corner, the gradual pro-
grefs of this good work in general, and the profi
ciency of particular perfons in the way of God: and
how convictions, which had been attended at firft
with conficierable diflreffcs, iflued in a defirable fe~
renity of mind; attended with good evidences of well
founded peace; ihewing that the forrows, which had
met with too little compaffionate regard from fome
fellow creatures, had met with compallion from him
•whoff mercies are ever all his ether ivorks* and who has
promifed to revive the hearts of the hutnble and contrite
ones, Jor the fpints which he has made would foil before
hint) Ifa. Ivii. 15, 16.

I perluade myfelf, that the Journals publiflied In
the Narrative, and in the weekly papers, fome num
bers of which were formerly fent to you, containing
accounts of the rife and progrefs of the religious ex-
ercife of fome particular perfons, who feem to have
attained to joy and peace in believing, mud give no
fmall fatisfftdtion to you, and other perfons of can
dour about thefe peoples regards to the mercy of
God, in the mediation of his Son, as attended with
the characters which diftinguifh faith unfeigned from
its counterfeits; and as founding a reafonable judg
ment of chanty that they receive Chrift in all his
mediatory offices, and for all the falvation that he
has purchafed.

As I have had opportunities of ccnverfing with
fome of thefe perfons, and with others whofe attain
ments refembled theirs; 1 think it very natural for
thofe who have had fuch opportunities, to reflect oa

K I L S Y T H

the great difference betwixt converging with fuch
people themfelves; and receiving accounts of them
from others: and on the difficulty of conveying to
others, by defcription, adequate notions of all the
things which mull juitly make a favourable impref-
fion on the minds of them who are prefent. It muft
be owned indeed, that it is but reafonable caution
not to lay too great flrefs on peoples ferious manner
of expreiling their religious concern, till that favour
able prefumption is confirmed by more decifive evi
dences: yet as the appearances of ferioufnefs, on
fuch occafions, admit of very different degrees; one
of your experience mufl have obferved degrees of it
which have fomething in them fo convincing, how
ever hard to be defcribed, as fcarce to leave room for
hefitation, about the fmcerity of the fpeakers, in the
minds even of the more cautious hearers. A good
deal of this appeared to me very obfervable, among
the people I fpeak of, when expreffing their fenfe of
the molt important things, and giving vent to their
chief forrows or joys; like perfons having very near
views of their appearance before the fupreme tribu
nal; and wifely overlooking the inconfiderable inter
val, fo juftiy called in fcripture a moment, that fepa-
rates betwixt the prefent inftant of time, and endlefs
eternity.

The Atteftations of the fefTion or confiflory, and
of the prefent Magistrate of Kilfyth, will give you a
pleafant view of the good fruits of this work on the
lives and practice of that people. Some inflances of
reftitution among them, which happened after this
work began, I had occafion to be well informed of,
foon after they happened: and as to one of them,
had the pleafure to be employed by Mr. Robe, in
conveying the fum, given him by one unknown to
me, to the perfon for whom it was intended. The
thing is well known to feverals of good character
here; though the reftorer is concealed, as no doubt

NARRATIVE. 177

he ought. Some eminence in the amiable graces of
chanty, meeknefs and humility, appears plainly ob-
fervable in the fubjeds of this good work here, as
well as of others like it in other places of late: I
mean, in thofe whofe proficiency affords the eviden
ces which found a judgment of charity as to a real
change on peoples hearts.

It rendered the work in thefe parts to the North
and Eaft of this city the more remarkable, that it
extended to fo many contiguous congregations, and
made fo much progrefs in fo fhort a time. As ic
was on the 1 8th of May, that, upon a friendly invi
tation, I went firfl to Kilfyth, after this work ap
peared: among other marks of an uncommon con
cern about religion in that countryfide, I obferved
evidences of it in peoples eagernefs to embrace op
portunities of converging with thefe whom they
judged capable of giving them ufeful inftru£lions,
even in travelling on the high-way. And in my
return home, at the end of that week, I had the
pleafure to find that on the road between Kilfyth
and Kirkintilloch, and in the bounds of the latter, in
three fmall villages, within the fpace of lefs than two
miles, there were about fourteen j;erfons, feme of
them very young, lately awakened: all of whom, ex
cepting two or three, who were out of the way, I
faw and converfed with, and obferved a ferioufnefs
about them that could not but give particular faiis-
f action.

If it is a hopeful fign of fincerity when people
have deep concern about perfeverance; and take the
alarm when they apprehend fuch things in them-
felves as look like beginnings of backfliding; the
felf-diffidence and jealoufy of that kind, which I
cbferved among thefe people, behoved to be very
encouraging. When I Rayed fume days in October
lad at Kilfyth, I obferved that the minifter had found
it proper, publicly to warn fome, without naming

178 K I L S Y T H

any, who, as he heard, were like to lofe their goad5
impreflions, to come and donverfe with him at his
houfe; and being there when they came, had the plea-
fure to obferve a happy difappointment of his fears
about them : it appearing plainly that they were fo far
from being turned carelefs and unconcerned about
religion; that they were under no fmall concern that
their religious affeclions were not quite fo lively as

Nfometime formerly; and it was from their own com
plaints on this head, that the report of their being
like to lofe their good impreflions had proceeded.

When this good work began, I could with the
more freedom urge Mr. Robe, however hurried, to
favour me with accounts from time to time of its
progrefs; becaufe fuch intelligence would be very
acceptable, and edifying to many others, particularly
in this city. And though it could not be expected
that Letters written by one having fo much defirable
work on his hands fnould be very full and particular j
or that one writing to a friend, and in fuch hafte,
fhould have fuch regard to ftile, as in things intend
ed for public view: yet as thefe Letters give a plea-
fant view of the gradual progrefs of that work, toge
ther with feveral remarkable particulars; and alfo of
the warm impreflions which a train of fo extraordi
nary and defirable events behoved to make on the

• mind of one, by duty and inclination, fo deeply in-
terefted; at or near the very time that they happen
ed, or while they were yet frefh in his memory; ex-
prefled in the natural manner ufual between intimate
correfpondents: for thefe reafons I reckon it no fmall
favour, that I have fucceeded in taking pains to obtain
his confent, that Extracts of thefe Letters fhould be
publiftied.

/ am yours, &c.
G LASGOW,!
Jan. ^%tk> 1743. 5

JOHN M'LAURIN.7*

NARRATIVE. 179

EXTRACTS

O F

LETTERS

FROM MR. ROBE,
From MAY 151!!, to JULY 19th, 1742.

Here follow tie Extrafis cf Letters, mentioned at ths
clofe of the proceeding Atteftatiori; which Mr. Robe^
when prevailed on to yield to the publication of them 9
referred fo entirely to his correfpondent, as to the choice
of the Excerpts to be publijhed, that he only, and not
Mr. Robet is accountable for the choice made*

KILSTTH, May i$th, 1742.

A FTER fpeaking of what happened in his jour-
*• ^ ney from Cambuflang, an account of which is
publimed in this Narrative, page 73. The Lord is
Jbooting his arrows fujl; praife to him that they are net
arrows of dejlruclion af we deferve : May his holy arm
get him the vicJ^ry over Satan in theje wounded feu Is.

He is come to this countryfide. There was a great
day of power at Calder Tuefday lad. We had a good
day Sabbath laft: I now know of fix that came under
convictions that dayj and there may be others. O
cry to him for a plentiful effufion of his Spirit, and
for much zeal, fldll and humility, with finglenefe
N ^

180 K I L S Y T H

to — me. O if I could praife and magnify him; I
would fain do it: pray that I might be kept out of
my own eye, and that I may have Chrift and the
good of fouls only in fight. —

Poftfcript) May \6thy This has been indeed one of
the days of the Son of man The King of glory
hath {hot his arrows very thick into the hearts of his
enemies, not for their definition, but to fall under
him. There was a great cry of awakened finners
this day: there have been feven and twenty awakened
this day, all of them under as great agonies as we
conceive thefe of the 2d of the Acts; beGdcs others
that were carried away by their friends, whofe names
I have not yet; I have dealt with them all this eve
ning, as alfo Mr. Oughterfon for a while, having fent

for him. O praiie him, and pray much for us,

and tell every body to praife him for his mercy to us,
and that he will flay a long time with us after this

fort. — There are no fewer than five in family

tinder deep diftrefs: two daughters and three

fervants. O it is a gracious vifit: he hath wounded
and will heal. Write this good news to Mr.

0 let heaven and earth praife him: I expect you, and
am, £sV.

May 23^, The Lord hath been gracioufly prefent
this day: his Spirit is yet poured forth from on high,
notwithftanding of our ftupidity and ingratitude:
there was an uncommon concern upon the congre
gation and attendance unto the word: there are fe
ven awakened known to us this evening that were
not known before: fome newly awakened, viz. this
day: others their convictions begun lad Sabbath,
brought to a diftveffing and complaining height this
day : I am perfuaded there are many more of whom

1 expect to hear to-morrow. There were two others
came to us upon Saturday after you left us; both of
them fome years above forty, one the fame day above

NARRATIVE. 181

fifty; another betwixt fixty and feventy. I rejoice
at the Lord's coming near old finners. I am much
diflatisfied with myfelf, that I am not in raptures of
love, joy and gratitude. I know I need not defire
you and others of the Lord's people, both to pray
and praife for us.

May 28//>, I have the great pleafure to tell you,
that the Lord yet continues to pour forth his good
and free Spirit upon unworthy us: Wednefday laft

the congregation was much moved: Mr. — and

Mr. and I preached: the awakened were ad
ded to: my lift amounts to feventy-fix, of which
there are about forty-eight in this parifh: befides
feven I am allured of, two of which belong to Denny,
two to Airth or Larbart, two to Cumbernauld, and
one to this parifh: and feveral others we prefume
are unknown to us. Some are come to folid relief;
others are, I hope, not far from it.

June id, I have juft time to write you this.

Mr. preached with me to day: there was n

confiderable multitude: ther6 appeared a concern
among the people, though no outcry. I wait for
the fruits, which I hope a fovereignly gracious God
will fhew in his own time: I have fome newly
awakened fince I wrote to you, befides others I hear
of: this night there were three with me who never
fpoke to me before.

N. B. They keep their diftrefs as Ion 7 r.s they can
hold: there was another with me yefterclay who was
new; and one this morning, awakened iaft Lord's
day. (

June S//6, I have jufl time to write this to you,

having fcarce a moment's fpare time, the diftreffed,

or thofe who are come to relief, coming continually

to me. The parifh lift is now fixty. I can give no

N 3

182 K I L S Y T H

diftinft account of thofe awakened here, in other
congregations. The Lord is continuing gracioufly
•with us. Four or five new ones have been with me
fince Sabbath laft. Several are come to folid relief.
I had one this day rilled with inexpremble joy — I am
wonderfully flrengthened, have great pleafure and
made unwearied. O praife him who does it; — pray
for a more plentiful outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

June 9//S, I wrote to you by the poft this morning.
"We have had a glorious day this day. Many are
added to the awakened, either altogether new, or
thofe who were formerly flightly touched have been
deeply awakened: there are eight I am' certainly in
formed of; beficles a great many others that I judge
pretty probable; five of the firft are in this parifh:
there was a general concern in the congregation: a-
rnong thefe they fay are — and — newly married. I
find when I am weaken: and have lead expectation
from my fermon, the Lord (hews himfelf moft. I
preached from John xvi. i i . I was far from being
pleafed with the compofure. Mr 's helper preach
ed with me from Matth. xi. 28- a good fermon. I am
much ftraitened for help; but the Lord (lands by me;
blefled be he, and he will do it. Receive a third
Journal. 1 have a beautiful one, of one who was in-
exprembly filled with the love of Chrift ihed abroad
in her heart — and they tell me continues yet over
come with it. Some old chriftians are getting won
derful reviving, and manifeflations of the love of God.

June i r/£, Becaufe I know what joy and thank
ful nefs it gives you to hear of our Hear Lord's appear
ing in his glory and majefty in COL /lering his ene
mies to himfelf, I embrace the opportunity to write
to you that this hath been a good week ; one of the
beft I ever faw, though of the greateft labour; yet
pf the greateft pleafure. I had a clofet full of little

NARRATIVE. 183

cnes yefternight making a pleafant noife and outcry
for Chrift; and two of the youngeft, one of them
but ten, fainting and fo diftrefl they could fcarce go
home. I cannot write unto you the wonders I faw:
one of eleven crying out me was fick of fin, and
crying out with hands uplifted to heaven: when I
told her, that if {lie were willing to take Chrift he
would heal her; I am willing with all my heart, and
from the bottom of my heart to take him; I bade
her wait with patience, and told her ftie minded the
xl. Pfalm : fhe noted over the firft twelve lines with
great calmnefs: I hear they have been very diftrefl
laft night and this day. I would fain hope that relief
may not be far from her. O pray for the poor young

babes Tells me juft now (he is come to joy and

peace in believing, for which I beg you will praife
the Lord, and employ others to do it. Poor little

fpeaks to the diftreft like herfelf This is — a

pleafant country-fide — be it was. I wifli you were
here. Wednefday was a wonderful day when we
were afraid that the work was like to flop : there have
been ten new ones belonging to this congregation
fince laft Lord's day; fo that if I count right they
are about or near feventy ; befides thofe who belong
to other congregations of which I can have no ac
count.

June \~ithy Receive a fourth Journal, which I
have with much difficulty, for want of time, got ex
tracted from my book — It concerns the woman over
come with love. She uttered in.n v things which I
could not take down, and I feldoni infert any thing
from my memory: the girl was with me this day,
and continues in the fame good frame, only her tears
are dried up, and flie hath got a humble joy in her
face. There is an elder chriftian in her neighbour
hood who hath got a conficierable reviving and mar
vellous manifeftations of the love of Jeius Chrift,
(hewing themfelves to be genuine by their effects.
N 4

1 84 K I L S Y T H

From Lord's day was feven nights the King of
kings has been riding glorioufly upon the white horfe,
jfhooting his arrows thick into the hearts of his ene
mies, making them fenfible of their evil ftate of un-
Irelief, making them to cry out for fear of the Lord
and the glory of his majefty, at the fame time fub-
duing others to himfelf. We had twelve awakened
3aft week belonging to the parifh, fifteen Sabbath laft,
four whereof were ftrangers belonging to Cumber-
nauld, Cafnpfie and Kirkintilioch: Tuefday we had
fifteen and one flranger ; and this day 1 had two who
were among the firft, but never came to me until
this day; which make in all belonging to the parifh,
fmce Sabbath before the laft, forty. I make no
doubt, but there are a great many ftrangers befides
not known to me. I have alfo had fome with me
who are come, I hope, to folid relief: though I am
continually employed, yet the Lord gives fuch bodily
Itrength as I am not much wearied ; and is not want
ing to me otherwife; he gives uncommon ftrength,
for uncommon fervice: which I acknowledge to his
glory; and beg that you and others may help me to
praifehimfor it — There was a good woman, who I
doubt not was a real chriftian, who blamed the peo
ple much for crying out, and fmd^ Could they not be
ferious enough without crying? Sabbath was eight
days ihe was made to cry out kerfelf, and was not a-
ble to come from the place of meeting to my Iioufe
•without being fupportcd by two men: (he acknow
ledges this day rhnt fhe juftly met with it for her
raihnefs — Laft Lord's day there were a good many
Awakened at Cumbernauld — I cannot precifely tell
how many the number of the awakened are with us
now, for I have not time to number them.

June 28/£, lam fo wearied this night, that tl«ough
I would incline to write at good length •, yet I am not
well able: yetblefTed be the Lcrcl, I have got as much

NARRATIVE. i$$

ftrength as has been fufficient for the day's work :
there are now, praifes to the builder up of Zion ap
pearing in his glory, fuch a number of the awaken
ed as gives me no refpite ; neither do I allow my-
felf to defire it, feeing I am not called to work in
my own ftrength. The Lord was gracioufly with
us yefternight: there were feven awakened yeiterday
newly: the child of fix was in great diftrefs during
the moil part of the fermon: I aflced at her at night
what ihe would give to get Chrift: (he anfwered with
a great deal of composure, I would part with my
life to have him •, at which I was amazed.

BlefTed be the Lord we are every day getting en
couragement by fome being brought to relief: thefc
who have got it, walk anfwerably: we are, God wil
ling, to obierve Wednesday as a day of thankfgiving
to the God of our extraordinary mercy : I beg you,
and others, will remember us that day.

'June 30^, The Lord hath been gracioufly prefent
with us this day. I looked upon it as a token for
good, that we had a great congregation, feeing it
was fet apart for folemn thankfgiving to God. I am
perfuaded it was the bed obferved day of thankfgiv
ing, in every fhape, ever was in Kilfyth; yet vailly
fhort of what ihould been rendered, according to
the benefit. We look to the great altar, facrifice and
High-pried for acceptance. I preached from Matth»
xxi. 1 6. From which 1 profecuted thefe two pur-
pofes, that extraordinary comings of the Lord Jefus
to his temple and ordinances, (hould be welcomed
with extraordinary praifes, and that he is plealed
when it is fo. Secondly, That when he comes he,
will provide for his praife by thefe who are unlikely,
and unfeafible in the world's eye; which made two
fermons in the' forenoon: we had a good fermon
from Mr. Young in the afternoon. There were three
newly awakened brought to me this day, belonging

i8<5 K I L S Y T H

%

to this congregation: there were doubtlefs many
more, for the concern was great. — Five were added
to the awakened at Cumbernauld lail Lord's day:
blefled be the God of our faivation, the face of the
congregation and country-fide is changed.

July idy Blefied for ever more be our God in
Chrift, for his continued marvcl'cus grace: I have
fifteen new awakened this week before this day. I
know of two more this day: and expe£l others to
morrow. I have been at Cumbernaulu ;ill this day,
and I think the body of this parifh. Tnere was a
very great cry in the congregation, not only >
the terrors of the law were preached, but the com
forts of the gofpel: the former five were awakened
this day: I hear more and more of the vaft change
there is upon the face of this parifh: iniquity as a-
fhamed hides its head; the wolf and the Lamb dwell
together — I am obliged to ftop at the cry of a num
ber of diftreft coming into the clofet.

There hath been brought to me, and come in a-
bout a dozen in great diitrefs, rnoft of them young;
fome of them awakened at home this day, and fome
at Cumbernauld: one of them was awakened while
I was fpeakingto the reft: one weeding corn to day:
they were in fuch diftrefs, that I could only fpeak
in general to them. One of them was looked on
as — : O amazing grace: I beg you will pray for
me: I will have people to converfe with me all day
to-morrow, and no body to preach for me on the
Lord's day ; yet I will not fear, for I trull in the
Lord: Idoubt not but he will be my ftrength to all
lie calls to.

July $tl, The Lord is making us fi fliers of men
indeed: he is prefent ; and while we toiled years in
his abfence and to apprehenfion catched nothing; at
every letting down of the gofpel-net, fome are catch-

NARRATIVE. 187

ed; he is driving them into the net; and making
ibme pray to be enclofed: endlefs praifes be, and will
be to him for it. Yefterday * was a Bochim in the
congregation for unworthy communicating; and this
evening there was a great cry in the church: Mr.

G , minifteratCarnock,who came here this after-

•noon preached : laft week the newly awakened were
about thirty-fix, of which about twelve or fourteen
were awakened at Cumbernauld Friday laft: yefter-
day, and this day there were fifteen new, all belong
ing to this congregation : three of them were awaken
ed while Mr preached: we never had fo great a

number in fo fliort a time. Every day I have fome
acquainting me with their relief, which I find in the
moft to be folid and good. I have converfed with a-
bout forty this day from the town of Kilfyth, befides
others: 1 trufted in the Lord for yefterday and was
helped — I had with me on Saturday an honeft man
from Muthil, where Mr. Halley is minifter, who in
forms me there have been, fince March, fifty awak
ened in thatparifh; for which I blefs the Lord —
There is a perfon in this country — who is jealous that

his family owed to the late about ten (hillings: he

hath put it into my hands to give it to his heirs. I
know no hand fo fit as yours to do it, feeing it may
be fome time ere I come to town, and do not know his
heirs : you will pleafe to receive it from the bearer. ,

July S//6, There were eighteen awakened yefter
day, Sabbath laft and fince, all belonging to the con
gregation. There are only two to-day, one in Den
ny and the other in Campfie.

July i$^£, I have been bufy in dealing with the
diitrefled a good part of this day; we have only, as
far as I know yet, about a dozen or thirteen newly

* It was the preparation Sabbath before the commm i

i«8 K I L S Y T H

awakened of them who belong to this congregation,
fmce Thurfday lad, and about fourteen we know of
from Gargunnock, Kippen and Campfie; befides
thefe, one from Muthil, and one from Carnock.
There was — a trihpfe in fornication dropt down yef-
terday in the barn juft as I was difmifling the diftreft:
(he was to be led home ; was with me to day ; and
in a hopeful way. May the good and free Spirit of
the Lord remain with us; I am willing, with a de
pendence on grace to take no reft; to direct them
under his conduct to Jefus Chriffc. Though we have
had fome every day; yet we have had fewer belong
ing to this parifti thefe eight days pad than for fome
weeks before: yet, blefTed be the Lord, it is made
up with ftrangers who have carried it home to their
own congregations, who I hope fhall be made as
Jeaven to leaven the whole lump.

July \i)t"h^ We had a good day from the prefence
of the Lord yefterday : there was a great noife among
the dry bones both forenoon and afternoon. There
were a good many ftrangers from beyond Stirling
and from Fife : there were two of thefe at a cliftance
obferved — under deep concern : but they went away
without fpeakin^: eight have been with me: one
from Gargunnock awakened yefterday afternoon:
blefled be the Lord it is going comfortably over the
mountain : — —Two from Kirkintilloch and one from
Cumbernauld, arid only four of our own: blefied
be the Lord for all.

I (hall carry on this print, by inferting the follow
ing letter I have received this week, from a country
man who liveth about fourteen miles diftant from
this — It is an atteftation to this work as from the
Spirit of Jefus Chrift, from his own feeling and ex
perience: the natural fimplicity, wherewith it is
written, is its beauty: and I doubt not its being ac-

NARRATIVE.

ceptable, to many readers — I have concealed the
perfon's name for the fame reafon, I did fo in all the
Journals. It is dated February 4th.

Rev. and Honoured PnJ}ory

" T>ARDON me for taking this freedom to write
•"• to you; I being unknown to you in the fiefh:
the occafion of my writing is; Becaufe, I have read
fome writings of yours, and others which have been
very encouraging to my foul: I am but young in
years, and weak in knowledge, and do not offer this
as perfect, or able to {land a trial, having attained
but a little knowledge of the truth, and therefore
hope you will have charity upon my failings; there
being too many writings that are wrote through
pride and felf-conceit; which are the occafiou of
much fin, every one being right in his own eyes.
O how few are there that aik counfel of the Lord!
the evidences do clearly appear at this day. Since
ever it pleafed the Lord to open my eyes, to let me
fee the need 1 have to repent of my evil ways; the
glory of God was more dear to me than all thhjgs
in this life, which made me have a defire to the
Aflbciate brethren; becaufe, 1 thought they were
contending for the truth: but bleflcd be God, his
thoughts are not our thoughts: who moved me to
aflc counfel at himfelf, and who keeped me from
thefe by-paths, into which he has permitted them to
go: but while I thought on thefe things, the news
of a furprifing work at Cambuflang, which fome cal
led the work of the Lord, others the work of the
devil was told me; this no doubt was the occafion of
much fin: but I entertained good thoughts of it; but
having no foundation to build upon, I had a great
defire to fee the truth of it; but could not go at that
time, the labour being throng; it was remarkable iu
Kilfvth before I could win: 1 was the firfl thui \ve:ic

190 K I L S Y T H

from this place, and was greatly edified in hearing
your preface before you furig the Pfalm xlv. 3.

The word came with much power upon my own
foul, your text being that day on thefe words, He
that believeth not is condemned already ; fuch home ex-
preffions I had not heard before; which did work
with power upon my foul, and made me think no
wonder, that the people that were ftruck with the
arrows of conviclion, and the belief of the wrath of
God abiding upon them, were made to cry out:
about the clofe of your fermon, there came fuch a
powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, that I was
fwallowed up in the love of God, and made perfectly
to believe, that it was the work of God. There was
few that knew that I was there; but before I got
home many had got wit, who came, and afked me,
what I thought of it; I told them that it was the
work of the Lord. O but our hearts be unftable as
water! Hearing fo many fpeak againfi it, and giving
great reafons for the fame; made me jealous, think
ing it might not be as I thought, which made my
heart long to go again; next day you lectured, and
one Mr. Jackfon, as they called him to me, preached,
minifter at Biggar; who had a moil powerful fermon
on thefe words: Cajl thy burden on the Lord, and he
Jballftiftain thee. I came away with fuch peace, and
joy in believing: O my foul, blefs the Lord, and for
get not all his benefits: ever fmce I had no doubts
about it. Next, I went to the iecond facrament at
Cambuilang to be more confirmed in the truth of it;
I did riot go to the table; becaufe, I wanted to hear
and fee every circumftance of it; then my heart
longed to join to communicate with thofe children
of God, hoping that the Lord would bellow on me
fome of the crumbs that fell at their table, I was
glad when I heard you was to have another facra
ment, at which I did communicate: what I did feel
on my foul, and how God did work in me, and what

NARRATIVE. 192

I did fee and hear, I fhall not give an account of,
becaufe time nor paper could not contain it; but I
defire to blefs the Lord, that ever I was honoured
to fee fo much of his remarkable power and glory:
Make a joyful noife unto God all ye lands, fing forth the
honour of his name, make his praife glorious ; fay unto
God, How terrible art thou in thy works ? Through the
greatnefs of thy power, /hall thine enemies fubmit them"
felves unto thee ; all the earth JJjall worftnp thee, and
ftng unto thy name: Come and fee the works of God, he
is terrible in his doings toward the children of men :
But, alas! how unthankful have I been unto him for
the fame: but blefied be his name, who marks not
iniquity; but delights in mercy for his own name's
fake. What reafon have we to be thankful to his
name! He hath not dealt fo with every nation. But
fuch is the pride of our heart, we will not be be
holden to the Lord for counfel: and when we da
forfake the Lord's counfel, no wonder we wander
into many dangerous paths. I am furry for the
Aflbciate Brethren, they are fo far left to themfelves,
as to be offended at the ways of the Lord, of whofe
chriftianity I have no doubt; but defire to fpeak with
charity left I mould fpeak too far. But I think there
is fomtthing in them of that fpirit, that was in that
godly man Jonah, Jon. iv. i, 2, 3, 4. But it dif-
pleafed Jonah exceedingly^ and he was very angry, and
he prayed to the Lord, and faid, I pray thee, O Lord>
ver. 3. Therefore, O Lord, 1 befeech thee take away my
life, for it is better for me to die than to live. I think
there is fomething like this in them; becaufe, the
Lord in the midft of deferved wrath is remembering
mercy, and whom he will he hardneth. O that the
Lord may open their eyes, that they may fee their
great evils that they have been guilty of: O that the
Lord may lay it to their confciences; but not to their
charge. O Lord come to our hearts in a day of thy
power, and look on us in the face of thy beloved Son,

K I L S Y T H

in whom thou art well plea fed; and med abroad t
Icve in our hearts, then mall we love one anothe'n
from love to thee, 'who is love. O for a right anc
charitable frame of fpirit; but alas, we fpy the mot,
in our brother's eye; but perceive not the beam in our own.
James iii. 13. Who is a ivife man, and endued iviti
knowledge amongjl you> let him JJjeiv out of a good con-
•verfation his works > ivith meeknefs of •wifdom : But if yt
lave vitier envying^ and Jlrife in your heart '/, glory not^
and lie not againjl the truth. O but the word of God
be fweet words: the word is the only rule to direcl
us how we may glorify and enjoy him. O Lord
open our eyes, to fee light in thy light, for all other
lights are but darknefs: aivd as our blefled Saviour
txprefleth it, If the light that is in them be darlnefs%
low great is that darknefs? Alas, that there is fo
much of that kind of darknefs; the moft part have
heads full of knowledge, but hearts wanting grace.
No wonder they fpeak evil of the true light; becaufc
the carnal mind is enmity againjl God: if it be fo, that
they have enmity againft God: will they not have
the fame at his children. Many would follow Chrift
if they would be allowed to have friendship with the
world: but when the crofs comes, they, like Demas,
forfake him, for they love the world more than Jefus.
Indeed, when firft the Lord did work upon my foul
to accept of Jefus Chrift, I thought the crofs was a
burden to me, which made me many a time hearken
to carnal reafoning: things of this world I could not
part with; they were fweet to my flefhly heart: but
bleffed be God, I can fay with St. Auguftine, How
fweet is it to want my former fweetnefs. I would
not exchange cne quarter of an hour, of the love of
God upon my fou), that 1 have had at fome times,
for all the pleafurcs of ten thoufand worlds, were
they all at my command. O my ioul, forget not all
his benefits* Herein is love, not that iue loved God; but
rhji he loved ust and fail his Sort to le a propitiation Jor

NARRATIVE. i#

nar fin:. O but I have a cold luke-warm heart, that
is fo little affefted with his love: indeed the going
to Kilfyth and Cambuflang has made me to be hated
by fome that formerly loved me: but I defire to blefs
the Lord that led me by his Spirit: I many a time
think that fuch days of power have not been feen
under the gofpel, fince the apoftles rirft preaching
ihe glorious gofpel. O Lord, never let my foul for-
(T't, what I did fee at Kilfyth and Cam bulling of
thy glorious power; on Saturdsy's night before the
facrtment, I did not go to feek lodging with the reft
of our town's people that were there: after the fer-
mon WAS over, I went to the brae-head Eaftward,
and looked around: the candles were burning irt
every place; that bleiTed echo of prayers, and fweet
finging of fongs, made me almod faint for joy, and
lament over my dead heart, that was fo lifelefs, and
put me in mind of the fweet fongs that are furig irt
heaven at God's right hand, and the word that God
did enable his ferVants to fpeak at your facrament,
was fo refreihing and fweet to my foul, that I was
in ftrait when to go to the table, becaufe the tables
were ftill throng; I could not think of lofing that
precious day of grace, in {landing at the church
door, before I could get in, the tables were all ferved
but one before I did communicate, and there the
Lord did manifeil hirnfelf to me,- as he does not to
the world: I never did think to fee fo much of hea
ven, as I was eye and ear witnefs to that night, OR
this fide of time. 0 Lordt our Lcrd, ho<w excellent if
thy name in all the earth! who baft fet thy g/cry above
the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and fucklingf
baft tbou orddined ftrength) becaufe of thine enemies > that
thou mighteft Jllll the enemy and the avenger. The Lord
is grachus and full of compa/Jion ; his tender mercies are
ever nil his 'works. All thy ivsrks fl>a!l praife thee, O
Lord, and thy faints flail blefs the?. They jhail fyeah of
yjorj of thy kingdom % and ia& of thy pwer. T*

194 K I L S Y T H

make known to the fons of men , his mighty afts, and the
glorious majefty of his kingdom. What tongue can fpeak
ofthypoiuery and thy glory? We will but darken the
light of thy power when we fpeak of it. O Lord,
let that cloud that has appeared in the Weft of Scot
land, fpread Eaft, Weft, South, and North, that thy
glory may Jill the whole earth; as the waters cover the
feas. O Lord, let thy heavenly dew come down
upon our fouls, that we may grow as the willows by
the water-courfes, and as the cedars in Lebanon in
holinefs; and flouriih in grace as the palm-tree. O
Lord, let not our fins provoke thee to reftrain the
down-pouring of thy Spirit on thefe finful lands* O
Lord, for thy name's fake, pafs not by this poor pa-
rim ; and, O Lord, may thefe that thou haft brought
in to thyfelf, in a remarkable way evidence them-
felves to be thy children by their good works, they
being the fruits of true faith, and love: help them
to forgive their enemies, and to pray that their fins
may be forgiven them. They have been praying fcr
the day of the Lord: and now, becaufe it has not
come in the way that they looked for; they are
grieved, and wifh it away again, it is darknefs and
not light to them. O dear Sir, exhort them to be
ware of carnal fecurity, and the pride of humility,
for I have found them to be two great fins. I have
not written unto you becaufe ye have not known the
truth; but becaufe ye have known it, and that no
lie is of the truth.

NARRATIVE. 195

ARTICLE V.

Concerning thefe ^ upon lukofe bodies , fpiritual operations
bad real and fenfibte influence in a more unufual way.

T EARNED and godly Rutherfoord, hath in the
•*-* Contents, prefixed to his Survey of the Spiritual
Antichrift, a title in thefe words: The real Influence
6f Spiritual Operations on the Body : from this I
have taken the hint, in the terms I have ufed in this
Article — The preceeding claim all who burft forth
into tears and weeping, groaned deeply, or made
bitter out-cries when they were awakened — This
gives the hiftory of thefe whofe bodies were more
grievoufly affected — This I ihall endeavour to do
with all the faithfulnefs and opennefs that becometh
an honeft man; and with all the diftinclnefs I can
attain.

The firft fort are thefe who complained of pains
in their bodies-, namely in their arms and legs, that
they were ready, as they exprefled it, to break — I have
two very ftrong men in my remembrance while I
write this. And they are the only inftarices I re
member — They had been for feveral hours under
diilrefs before I faw them — They had both a diftincl:
and particular conviction of fin, becaufe of unbelief;
and clear views of the dreadful wrath of God, they
were under and liable to becaufe of it — The arrows
of the Almighty had pierced them to the quick, the
poifon whereof drank up their fpirits — I found that
from their fir 11 awakening they had, in uttering thei*.'
complaints and fears, and in their frequent and
earned cries to God, wreilled and tcfled much

. O 2

K I L S Y T H

their bodies — To this, as well as to the uncommon
carneftnefs of their minds, I afcribed thefe pain^ of
their bodies in their arms, thighs, and legs, they
complained of — I remember one of them faid, he
had wreftled fo, that his ftrength was quite gone —
They had been near a night and a day in this fitua-
tion — The Pfalmift's words might well be applied to
them, Pfal. xxxii. 3, 4. When I kept filence> my bones
•waxed old; through my roaring all the day long. For
day and night thy hand ivas heavy upon me : my motflure
is turned into the drought of fummer. — Next day their
fears were abated, convictions began to go kindly
with them, fupports and hopes v/ere given by a gra
cious God, and they complained no more of their
bodily pains; yet they attained no fenfible abiding
relief and comfort, for feveral weeks — They both
continue to this i ith of March 1743, to be know
ing, ftri6r. and exemplary chriftians.

The fecond fort are thefe, who were feized witli
trembling in their bodies when awakened. Of all
the bodily efredls this was the moft frequent — Theii
bodies would have (haken fo, as fome neareft tc
them were neceffitate to hold them faft, and fome-
times that perfon came to be awakened, and needed
foon another to do the fame kindly office to him, 01
her — All of thefe I converfed with, gave ftill a pre-
fent fenfe of their being finners, and liablenefs to the
wrath of God for fin, lefs or more diilindlly, as the
caufe of their trembling. So that they might have
ufed the Pfalmift's words, in fome degree, My fiefi.
irembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judg
ments. I could not mifs to think of the fcriptun
inftanc.es of Felix's trembling, under convictions
which went no farther; the very cafe of too man]
with us: alfo of Saul and the Jaylor trembling wher
firft awakened, which iflfued in real converfion, as i
did with feveral of ours, through the grace of ow
God,

NARRATIVE. 197

A third fort of their fears produced convulfive-
!ike motions in fome men or boys, and what I took
to be hyfteric fits in women or girls. There were
but very few men who were thus afFe&ed. Not a-
bove three or four that I can remember ; in none of
them, they came to fuch a height as to deprive them
0f their judgment, and fenfes for any time. And
they were ali ru^n of weak fpirits and bodily confti-
tutions, and but final! meafure of knowledge. There
were about half a dozen of boys, in whom alfo con-
vulfive motions appeared to come to a greater height,
and to make them infenfible for fome time — There
were alfo fome few women and feveral young girls,
who were feized with fuch fits, when ever their
thoughts about their fmful loft (tate, and being with
out God and Chrift, increafed their fears to a great
height. I obferved as to them likewiie; that they
were, fome of them, very ignorant ; others though
they had fome notional knowledge, yet they had.no
diftin£t view of the tinner's way of relief by Jefus
Chrift. And others again were of tender and weak
ly conftitutions— and poilibly have been under fome
•degree of hyfleric-fits formerly — A good many of
,thefe who were diligent in the ufe of means, carrus
by the power of God's grace, to a good and com-?
fortable iflue, or, are in a hopeful way — Several
who v/ere grofsly ignorant, did not apply thcmfelves
with a patient diligence in the ufe of means to get
knowledge, and their general conviction of a fmful
ftate and fears came to nothing. Thefe convuliive
. j6iTe£ts, prejudiced many of the common fort againft
this blefled work — They know no other convulfionj
..but the epilepfy, or what they call the falling-fick-
nefs — They know not that there are many forts of
convulfions, which are not the falling-ficknefs — or
the fits, another name ordinary among them ; and
therefore whatever they hear called convulfions, hy-
fceric-fits, &c. they underftandallin the worft fenfe,

19* K I L S Y T H

for the falling-ficknefs, which they have great dread
for — Some of the feceding minifters knowing this
prejudice and weaknefs of the vulgar, have without
the leaft fliadow of truth, repreferited this at a dif-
tance in the worft fhape, as epilepfies, and accompa
nied with framings and other epileptic-fymptoms,
v/hereas, as far as I could either obferve, or hear,
there was not one who was feized with epilepfy, or
falling-ficknefs, or foamed: but fome oppofers have
forged it, as it is well known they have done many
other things. And as I have known no inftance of
the epilepfy, fo it is worthy obfervation that there is
no inftance wherein any of thefe troubles became
periodical with any of them, though they recurred
frequently upon them before their fears were remov
ed. Some of thefe women appeared to faint in thefe
hyilericifms, and could not fpeak, but yet heard and
underftood what was faid to them. And the fpirit
of fal-armoniac or of hartshorn put to their nofes
were ufeful to revive them. Their pulfe was not
much difordered — Others neither heard, nor were
otherwife fenfible, fpirits put to their nofes had little
influence upon them, their pulfe was difordered and
their colour changed. There were alfo fome who
f-iinted, and fell over as dead without any unufual
motion upon their bodies. All thtfe gave the inward
fears of their fouls as the caufe of the diforder of
their bodies, and the ground and reafon of their
fears their being convinced and made fenfible, that
they were fmncrs, in fuch a way, as they never were
before.

Thefe of the third clafs were but a few compared
\vith the number of the other forts of the awaken
ed. The reader may judge by this one inilance.
Upon the fixteenth of May when there were near
thirty awakened, and known to me that night: there
was not one of thefe in the third clafs mentioned,
that I can remember; or any other, I have enquired

NARRATIVE. 199

at, can condefcend upon — And yet it is worth notice,
that as miny of this third clafs, were, through the
tender mercy of the moft High, brought to a good
iflue, as of any of the other; keeping to the pro
portion of numbers — There was only one of this
fort, whom I difcovered to be like thefe in Lochlairn.
The diforder of her body appeared to me more af
fected than natural, fhe was very eafy like in her
afpecl when (he came out of it, fhe was grofsly ig
norant, and I could find in her no dtftin& fight and
ierife of fin, and though fne was at pains for a few
weeks to learn to read, yet (he gave it over. I tried
to difcharge her to be any more fo afre&ed in her
body when fhe was hearing the word: which had
the efle<£t, that (lie never appeared fo afterwards,
and die continues (lupid, carelefs and ignorant, as
formerly ; po/Tibly there might be fome others of this
fame fort, who being thus affecled, came to me once
or twice and I heard no more of them. This being a
cafe that could not be counterfeited for any time.

There have alfo been inftances here, of thefe up
on whom the joys and comforts of the Holy Ghoft
have had fenfible influence. Some who had been
under deep apprehenfions of divine wrath, and funk
under a fenfe of their guilt, when the Lord enlightened
their minds in the knowledge of Chrilt, opened
their hearts to receive him, as ottered to them in the
gofpel, fo explicitly and exprefsly as to know they had
dons it; and at the fame time giving them views of
the exceeding riches of his grace, of the glory of
Jefus Chrift, and of his ability and willingnefs to
favc them : they have been furprifed with fuch mea-
fiires of joy, and admiration, as hath made their
hearts leap, fome to cry out with a loud voice, ex-
preffing their admiration, and mewing forth the
praifes of the Lord ; others alfo to break forth into
loud weeping, with a flood of tears from a fenfe of
their own unworthinefs arid vilenefs *, fome have had
O 4

200 K I L S Y T 1!

their bodies quite overcome for a time, and ready
to faint, if not actually to faint through the ftclin^
of fuch unexpected comforts and joys. 1 have Itui
thefe who have had their countenance quite chang
ed. An obfervable fertility, brightnefs and open-
nefs was and coniinued upqn their face, bo that it
was the obfervation of fome concerning them, that
they had got new faces: the Lord's countenance
hath been alfo the health of fome, recovering them
from long weaknefs, and bodily dhlrefs.

Under this article a hiftorical account is to be
riven of thefe \vhofe imagination appeared to have
been ailecled. There have been exceeding great mif-
ireprefentations of thisbcth here, and elfcwheie. The
inftanccG of fuch are very few, and fo inconGder-
;ible, that they gave me no manner of uneafineia.
Very near the beginning of this work, 1 inihucted
the congregation, by the help of grace, in the ex-
preiTeft, ftrpngeft, plained manner I could, That
Jefus Chrift in the body cannot be feen by any with
their bodily eyes in this life -, Fw the heavens niu/l re
ceive him until the times of the reftitution of all things.
That fuch a fight of him, if it were attainable, would
not fave them; feeing many had it in the days of his
ilefh, who yet continued, and periihed in their un
belief — And therefore if any of them iliould after
wards think they got any fuch fights •, they would be
rvcll pevfr.sded, that it was owing only to the
ilrength of their imagination, to the difordcv of their
head, and> of the humours of their bodies at that
time: and that it was not real — And that they would
cfptcially guard agaiuft building any hope upon it,
or thinking that their cafe was betteied by it. This
podibly might be one reafon why there was fo little
of this to be obferved here — I found none who ap
peared to have had impreilions upon their imagina
tion ; but they were ready to receive inflruclion, and
i?afi]y pevfuaded that no weight \vas to be hid upon

N A H R A T I V E. 201

any of tlufe things — This made me eafy and not
much alarmed with the few instance a I met with, or
heard of this kind: cfpecially confidering that they
evidently appeared to be the natural refult, in fome
confliititions, of the earneftnefb of their mind, and
fome prefent dilbrder of their bodies, and as I was
far iron* looking upon thefe things as any part of
the work of the Spirit, or any fign of it ; f o I was at>
far from looking upon them as incorifilient, and in
compatible with it : I had read and known ib many
inftttiicts of thefc things ere now j that I was in no
danger of either of thefe. In one of the fpring-
months, before there was any appearance of this
work, I met witii a remarkable inilance of this kind,
which was afterwards confiderably ufeful to me. It
was thus, a man who had been a chrillian of confi-
derable {landing, and of good repute for underfland-
ing, profefiion and praclice, was fick for fome
months, of which ficknefs he afterwards died. At a
time when I vifited him, he faid, there was fome-
thing lie wanted to enquire at me, and be fatisfied
anent. I allured him I was ready to fatisfy him
what I could. He laid, that fome days before that,
he had been much in earned and ferious prayer or
meditation, he thought he faw our Lord Jefus ChriiL
«s he hung upon the crofs, the wounds in his hands
and feet, and the blood running from his precious
wounds. His affections had been greatly moved, as
they were sjlfo when he repeated the {lory to me,
and enquired at me, What he mould think of it? I
jnilructed him what 1 could, that lie could fee no
fuch things by his bodily eyes; that it was owing
merely to his being much afftded in his thinking
upon the death of Jefus Chrift; to the (Irength of his
imagination, and to the prefent bad habit of his bo-*
dy: that it was another fight of Jefus Chriil as hq
was pierced that he was to feek after, and be exer-
cifed in, namdv, that mentioned Zech'. xii. to;

aoi K I L S Y T H

This I am perfuaded he had attained before that, at
that time, and afterwards. This the honeft man was
convinced of, and fatisfied with. It never entered
into my mind to aflign it to the devil, feeing I could
find a fufficient caufe for it in the man himfelf ; much
lefs to conclude it inconfiilent with a work of grace
upon the good man, efpecially feeing he laid no
weight upon it, wanted to be inftrucled what to
judge of it, and readily received in(lru£tion — So that
if I had feen any of the awakened who had been in
this honeft man's fituation it would have given me
no manner of fear or uneafmefs about them. There
is nothing I know here that came this length.

I (hall give a faithful hiftory of all I can certainly
remember, or have recorded relative to this fubje£l.

Of the many hundreds I have converted with,
there is only one who fa id, (lie thought (he Caw hell
open as a pit to receive her, one time while {lie was
{landing upon the flair that leads to my clofet: and
this was near a month after her firft awakening; I
told her, it was owing to her imagination: and, that
(he mud fee the wrath of God, due to her for her
fins, in the threatening of the law. Her convictions
made but flow progrefs, yet at length they appeared
to have come to a defirable ifTue: and, fhe continues
by what I hear, to behave as becometh a chriftian:
it is to be obferved, that her awakening began with
her being convinced th.u (he was inachiiftlefs (late,
and of the fadnefs of fuch a (late.

There were none, who bver fa id to me, that they
thought they faw the blefitd Jefus in any form. I
heard indeed of three, a woman and two girls, who
atone particular time, after much diftrefs of body
and mind, faid to thtfe with them, that they faw
Jefus Chrift: but I met with them afterwards, and
examined into it, and they appeared to be a(hamed
of it, and were convinced that they had really feen
nothing. And, they did not love to fpeak of it, they
were fo far from building any good hope upon it:

NARRATIVE. 203

and by what I could find, thefc about them* and re
port from hand to hand, had aggravated things much :
however the woman hath all the evidences can be
defired of her being a tender chriftian; though at the
lame time of a weak head: and both the girls are
moil hopeful.

There were three women who faid to me, that
once when they were under deep concern, and great
earneflnefs, they thought they faw a great and glo
rious light, for a very (liort time. But when 1 ex
amined into the circumflances, I found that their
eyes had been (hut at the time, and fo eafily con
vinced them, that it was not real, but imaginary, and
that no weight was to be laid upon it by them.
Thefe three are likewife promifing and hopeful.

Ihadafewinftances,who alledged thatthey hadbeen
frighted with the appearance of the devil; but when
I examined narrowly into it, I could find no further
reafon for it, then their legal and flavi(h fears, un
der a conviction of God's being their enemy, and
all his creatures, becaufe of their fins, which were fet
in order before their eyes. What in fome of thefe
inftances they apprehended to be the devil, feemed to
be no more than fome dog that came in their way
in the night-time, while they were going to pray,
or had been praying in fome folitary place. It did
not appear ftrange to me, to find a few inftances
(within fix) among country people, who are from
their infancy bred up, with (lories about frightful
appearances, efpecially in their prefent fituation,
when the arrows of the Almighty were within them,
the poifon whereof drunk up their fpirits: and the
terrors of God did fet themfelves in array againll
them, Job vi. 4. It gave me Ibme pleafure to ob-
ferve, that no fright of that kind, could drive them
from their prayers.

That I may conceal nothing: a judicious young
man, and whofe convictions feemed to iflue in real

K I L S Y T H, fev.

convcrfion having ufed to go in the night-time to his
father's barn, and continue there in prayer, for fome
confiderable time — He faid he was frequently diilur-
bed with a noife, as if the roof of the houfe would
have come down upon him. 1 affigned all the ordina
ry caufes for it, I could poiTibly think upon i but he
affirmed it could be none of them: he (till kept to the
place, though it continued for the molt part of feveral
weeks — A young woman of a good character from
her infancy, and upon whom, I hope, a faving
change hath b^en wrought lad fummer; fome little
before this fignal appearance of God in this congre
gation, (he dreamed, that a man came to warn ail the
people about the town, that the Lord was coming;
and the warning was given in the words of Micah
vi. 4. The Lord's voice crieth unto the cityy and the
man of wifd&m Jhall fee thy name. Hear ye the rod
and who bath appointed it. Telling her chapter and
verfe. Alfoj in the words of Ifa. Iviii. I. Cry aloudt
[pare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet^ andjheiu tny
people their iranf^rejjlons^ and the houfe of Jacob their
fins. Upon this (he awakened and ran to her Bible,
and was furprifed to find chapter and verfe anfwer
exactly to what (he had dreamed. She profefled
fnc had no occafion to notice particularly thefe fcrip-
tures before ; and knew not until (he looked into her
Bible, that they were as fne had dreamed. There are
fome few inilances of perfons who have in their fleep
been directed to fcriptures exactly fuited to the prer
fent cafe of their fouls.

Thus I have given the rnoft particular and circum-
flantial account of what effects this work had upon
the bodies of any known to me here. To this I {hall
lubjoin an Appendix, containing fome inftances
from hiftory, of thefe upon whofe bodies fpiritual
operations have in former times, had fuch feniiblc
influences as thefe referred to in this. Article.

C

A N

APPENDIX,

CONTAINING

INSTANCES OF PERSONS FORMERLY AFFECTED
IN THEIR BODIES, UNDER THE AWAKENING,
OR COMFORTING INFLUENCES OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT, AS THESE NOW.

inTTHAT I defign by the in (lances given in this
^* Appendix, is to (hew that the effects mention
ed in this Article are not unprecedented, and that
they have been obferved formerly upon thefe who
were under the undoubted operations of the Holy
Spirit: and were never reckoned inconfiftent, and
incompatible with a work of fwing grace, or the
real operations of the Holy Spirit where they were
found — It is not to be expected, that in the country
where I live, and from the fmall number of books I
can cpnfult, that I mould give many. Yet there are
of all the forts mentioned in this Article, and fo
fufficient to anfwer my defign — It is alfo hoped this
will excite others, who have advantages I have not,
to perufe the lives of religious perfons written in
Britain, to give greater numbers of fuch inftances.
It is not needful to infert here the cafe of the people
of Stewart on, many of whom fell over as dead when
they were firft awakened, and fo carried out of the
congregation: this is already mentioned in the Pre
face to this Narrative, nnd tlie reader may find it
there.

io6 APPENDIX.

The firft inftance, to begin with thefe who were
under a work of awakening and conviction, is of that
great and very learned man Francis Junius. I (hall
give the hiftory of his converfion in the words of
Baile's Di<Sl. Article Junius — < He yielded fo much

* to the fophiftry of a Libertine, that he found him-
c felf a per fed Atheift, after lending an ear to him
« for fome days. He did not remain long in that
' unhappy condition; a tumult about religion, which

* obliged him to run away, in order to fave his life,

* afforded him an occafion of refuming his firfl faith.
' His father recalled him to Bourges, and difcover-

* ing fomething of the opinions his fon was imbued

* with, he gave him good inftru£tions, and without

* feeming to know any thing of the matter, brought

* him to read the New Teftament. The firft words

* that Junius met with, afte&ed him fo fenfibly, that

* he quickly grew out of conceit with whatever re-
' lated not to piety.' To this Monfr. Baile adds
remark. H. < The thing is fo edifying, and fo
4 likely to imprint a due fenfe of the efficacy of the

* word of God, that I ought to fet down the whole

* pafiage." Which he doth from Junius's life writ
ten by himfelf. ' Here therefore I open that New

* Teftament, the gift of heaven: at fir ft fight, arid

* without defign, 1 light upon that moil augufl chap-
c ter of the Evangelift and Apoftle St. John, In the

* beginning was the word, £sV. I read part of the

* chapter, and am fo affedted as I read, that on a

* fudden I perceive the divinity of the fubjecl:, and

* the majefty and authority of the writing, far ex-

* ceeding all human eloquence. Horrebat corpus,

* ftupebat animus, & totum ilium diem fie afficiebar,
4 ut qui eflem, ipfe mini incertus viderer efle. i. e. 1

* /hivered, I was confounded^ and was fo affecled that
1 •whole day^ that 1 fcarce knew myfelf. 1'hou didfl

* remember rne, O Lord my God, for thy great mer-

* cy, and didrt r^c^ive a loft fheep into thy flock.

APPENDIX. 207

* From that time, when God had given me fo great
c a meafure of his Holy Spirit, I began to read other

* things with greater coldnefs and neglect; and to

* think more of, and be more converfant with thofc
' things, which belong to piety.'

The meaning Mr. Clarke in the life of Junlus
puts upon the Latin account of the effect of his firft
awakening, upon his body and mind is, My body
trembled^ my mind ivas ajloni/hedy and I was fo affeEled
all that dayy that I knew not where, or *what I *was.
The Author of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures tranf-
lateth the fame way. His body trembled, and bis mind
became ajlonijhed.

Here then we have an inftance of an eminently
great and good man, who at his awakening to a fight
and fenfe of his fin and danger, and when God gave
him firft his Holy Spirit, he was fo fenfibly affected,
that his body (huddered or trembled, his mind was
aftonifhed or confounded; and he was fo put through-
other, that for a whole day, he fcarce knew where,
or what he was. This bodily diftrefs of this great
man, was as great, as that of any man, I knew af-
feclcd in his body, by his awakening in this place.

A feccnd inftance is, in the words of the Author
of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures, page I 47. * The
' remarkable converfion of worthy Mr. Bofton, a

* chofen ininifter in the church of England, in \vhofe

* life this is recorded, that being eminently profane,
c a horrid fwearer, and much accuftomed to mock

* at holinefs, and.thefe who moft fhined therein, and
f particularly that excellent man of God Mr. Perkins,

* then minifter at Cambridge, whom he much un-
' dervalued for his plainnefs in preaching the truths

* of God; yea, was near the length of Popery: but

* on the Lord's gracious appearance to him, was put

* to have other thoughts, with a remarkable change

* upon him, though with that terror, that as he faid

APPENDIX.

himfelf, the Lord Teemed to run upon Kirn like n
giant, Job xvi. 14. throwing him to the ground,
and with fuch a terrifying difcovery of fin, criufed
him to roar in anguiih, and oft rife in the night
upon that account, which continued for diver;;
months; yea, thefe afiaults in the pangs of the
new birth, were fuch, that it might have been faid,
Ut nee color, ncc fen /us , nee fanguis fitperejftt) i. e.
That neither heat, nor feeling, nor bJoocl remained
c in him. But at lait a blefled fun-fiiiiie bra'ce up
c and Ihining light.' Thefe who pleafe may fee his
life at length written by Samuel Clarke. Here is
an inftance of the body's being further and longer
affe£ted than of any convinced and awakened man
amongft us.

The allufion Mr. Flemming makes to the hlftory
of Luther, induceth me to give him for the third in
ftance, though it doth not properly belong to the
head of conviction before converiion. Melchir Adam
hath it in the life of Luther, and Samuel Clarke from
him. * Upon a Sabbath-day, he was feized with in-

* ward temptations and bodily diftrefTes, which he
' called afterwards the buffetings of Satan, it feemed

* to him that f welling (urges of the fea did found
c aloud at his left ear, and that fo violently, that die

he mud, except they preiently grow calm; after
wards when the noife came within his head, he fcH
down as dead, and was fo cold in every part, ?// net
cahr, nee fangutSy nee fenfus^ nee vixfuperejjet, that he
had remaining, neither heat, nor blood, nor fenfe,
nor voice; but when his face was fprinkled with
cold water by Judas Jonas, he came to himfelf, and
prayed mod earnetlly, and made a confefiion of his
faith, faying, That he was unwortliy to fufTrr raar-

* tyrdom, which by his proceedings he might feem to

* run upon/ He often mentions this temptation in
l.»i» letters to his friends. This is an inftance of what

APPENDIX. 209

the effects of fpiritual troubles and fears may be upoa
the body: if a good man, his miftaking his Rate,
through the hidings of the Lord's face, and the
temptations of Satan, hath produced fuch fears and
inward diftrefs, as to make him fall down as dead,
as in this cife of Luther ; it is no wonder that fears
in a work of conviction and compunction, produce
in fome fuch effects: fo that this inftance of Luther,
and of all other converted perfons, under fuch fears,
through a miftake of their itate, as affec"r,s their bo
dies, is pertinent, and to the purpofe; and accord
ingly judicious Flavel cites the ilory of Luther thrice,
to ihew the dread fuiriefs of inward i'piritu?.! troubles
for fin: in one of thtfe places he hath thefs words,
Vol. I. Edin Edit. 1731, pag. 262. ' Luther was a

* man of great natural courage, and yet, when God
' let in fpiritual troubles upon his foul: it is noted

* of him, nee vox, ?iec calor^ nee fanguis fuperejjet^ he

* had neither voice, nor heat, nor blood appearing in
< him.'

Fourth Inftance, That great and extraordinary
man Mr. Robert Bruce, defifted from preaching
nine or ten days, at Chancellor Steven's defire, till
he received an anfwer from King James Vf. who
had fent an order to the Chancellor to difchar^e
Mr. Bruce to preach: he thought the matter was of
no great importance, the time being fo ihort, and
therefore condescended; yet that night his body was
caft into a fever by the terror of his conference,
Calder. Hid. pag. 469. if fuch a man, fo great a
chriilian, one who had fo much nearnefs to Gocl,
was cait into a fever by the terror of his confcience:
is it (Irange that perfons, knowing themfclves to be
as yet unreconciled to God, ihould have their bo
dies grievoufly affected by the terror of their con-
fciences.

P

2 ic APPENDIX.

Fifth Inftance. Mr. Flemming in his book Great
Appear. &c. pag. ill, 112, &c. Edin. 1678. gives
t\vo iiidances of deep foul exercifes, brokennefs of
fpirit, and terrors of the law, in both which their
bodies were greatly affe&ed: the firft is of a rare
Knglifh Gentleman, JVlr. John Glover: he quotes
this inftance from Mr. Fox's book of Martyrs, and,
in his words, as followeth; ' I was twice or thrice

* with him, whom partly by his talk, I perceived,

* partly ivitb my eys I fatwt to be ivorn and confumed

* by the [pace of Jive years, that neither almoft enjoy-

* ing of meat, quiet ot ileep, pleafure of his life, was

* left him, fo that, if it had not pleafed Chrift fome-

* time to have relieved his poor fervant, fo far worn,
' with fome feaforiable comforts, now and then, be-
c twixt times, it had been impoffible for him to

* fuftain fuch torments; the chief caufe whereof

* was, That having been gracioufly called by the

* light of the gofpel, and felt wondrous taftes of

* Chrift's heavenly kingdom, upon fome declining of

* his heart after the world, he was affrighted with

* that text, Heb. vi. 4, of having finned againft the

* Holy Ghoft, which fo wrought upon him, that if
'( he had been in hell, he could not have more de-

* fpaired of his falvation. In this his intolerable an-
c guifh, though he had no joy in .his meat, yet was

* he forced to eat againft his appetite, that he might

* thus defer the time, as long as cculd be, of his dam-

* nation -, but, though he fuffered many years fad

* temptations and ftrong buffettings of Satan, yet the

* Lord, who gracioufly preferved him all that while,

* did at laft, not only free him thereof, but alfo

* framed him thereby, as he being like one already

* placed in heaven, and dead to this world, both in

* words and affections, led a life wholly celeftial/

I need not, upon every inftance of this fort, put
the judicious reader in mind, that the exercifes of

APPENDIX. 2ii

teal chriftians, in darknefs about their (late, under
hidings of the Lord's face, under impreflions of his
wrath, and the afiaults of Satan, at fuch a time,
are analogous to, and much refemble the cafe of
fome under deep foul exercifes, and extraordinary
terrors of the law, when firft awakened, and con
verted : and therefore that all fuch inftances are as
much here to the purpofe, as infta"nces of perfons
having their bodies affected, by their foul exercifes,
at their iirft conversion.

Sixth Inftance, is the fecond given by Mr. Flem-
ming, forecited place, of Mrs. Katharine Brettery,
who lived in Lancashire, and died there 1601, in the
twenty fecond year of her age. The reader, who
inclineth, may read her life at length in Mr. Sa
muel Clerk's Lives. Mr. Flemming's abilract is,

* Some ihort time before the Lord called her to him-
4 felf: (he was exercifed with fuch (Irange inward

* terrors upon her fpirit, as all might difcern, not

* by her cries and complaints only, (though other-
' wife in greateit compofure of mind) that me was

* forfaken of the Lord, but; to the affecting of her bodyy

* bringing it /oiv, fometimes the Jiueat burjling out upon
( her, fo as all might fee what that pre/Ture and pain
' iuas9 ivhichJJje had 'within: The rife whereof was,

* her apprehended hypocrify, want of ferioufnefs,

* and being fuitably earneft in embracing religion;

* yea, that me had not fo glorified the Lord, efpe-

* cially with her tongue; nor had that fweet love to
4 him that me ought. Her conflict and terror con-

* tinued a confulerable time, fome of the moft folid
1 and grave minifters of that country being oft wiih
' her: but at lad that blefled victory and triumph

* that (he got was no lefs marvellous, after the Lord

* did break in with light, and difcoveries of himfelf.'

He gives alfo an account of feveral expreflions of
her joy and comfort fhe uttered, which I pafs, though

P 2

212 A P P E N D I X.

I have heard fome of our people burfl forth into ex-
prefTions of joy and praife like to them.

I (hall only fubjoinlVlr. Flemming's remark, he£on-
cludes this inilance with, that the Seceders amongft
us, who cry out fo much againft terrors at this time,
may obferve to whom they are become like, and
whofe outcry they homologate by this, if peradven-
ture, it may leave a conviction upon fome of them.
Mr. Flemming adds, ' This inftance I chufe the

< more to fet down, that feveral of the Popifh p<n ty
in that country then, did objtcl: this againft the
Proteftant religion, that it had fuch foul terrors fol
lowing the fame : but it is not ttrange from fuch as
are ftrangers to the fcripture, to the life of the
faints there, to the truth of holinefs on their own
foul, that this is beyond their reach or underftand-
ing. Yea, a wounded fpirit with thofe great rea
lities of the joy and confolation of God, by a routh
of the bleffed healer's hand, is no (hew, but found
to be in greateft earneft, though he does not in a
like manner or meafure, thus deal with his peo-
pie.'

The feventh Inftance is, what the Rev. Mr. Al
exander Webfter remarks from the life of that great
man Mr. John Livingfton: he faith of himfelf, print
ed relation of his life, p;*ge 5. 'I remember the

* fir ft time that ever I communicated at the Lord's

* table was at Stirling, when I was at fchool; where

* fitting at the table, and Mr. Patrick Simpfon ex-
c horting before the difcribution, there came fuch a

< trembling upon mey that all my body jhook, yet there-

* after the fear and trembling departed, and I got
' fome comfort and aflurance.'

The eight Inftance is of one Mrs. Rofs, who was
an eminent chriftian, and much exercifcd with a va
riety of many and great trials; fhe died in the year

APPENDIX. 213

1697. She left written with her hand, Memoirs of
her life and fpiritual exercifes, printed fince at E-
dinburgh 1735. The late Reverend and worthy
Mr. James Hog minifter of the gofpel at Carnock,
giveth her character in a letter to the publifher, and
prefixed to the faid printed Memoirs: fhe relates
concerning herfdf, page 10, i I. That after flie had
enjoyed for three days an uninterrupted heaven of
communion with God; * At the end of thefe three
' days all fenfible enjoyment was taken from me,
with that word, Te muft live upon the Jlrength of that
meat forty days. Arid this was not all, but for
the fpace of two years thereafter I was tempted of
Satan to give over prayer; yet this being the way
wherein he got advantage formerly, after I had loft
fenfe, my conflict about it was very great; for there
was never a timp in all the two years, but in every
prayer I either f<warft or 'was near it, before prayev
' ended. Yet the Lord manifefted ftrength in my
c weaknefs, fo that I yielded not to the temptation
' as before, for which I was fore fmitten, and at

* length got a feafonable victory; for being under a

* violent fit of ficknefs, fo that I could not move out
( of a bed; and felting myfelf to prayer, Satan in his
1 ufual way oppofing to the breaking of my body:
' the Lord fenfibly rebuked him, and I got the vic-

* tory, and prefent health, to the admiration of be-

* holders.' Her body being fo grievoufly affected in
every prayer, was evidently the effect of the con
flict of her mind, with the temptations of Satan to
give over prayer, or turn negligent therein, wherein
he had formerly got too much advantage over her,
after (he had loft fenfible enjoyments.

The laft thing that I offer upon this branch is,
that fuclx effects of convictions upon the body, as
fome of our people were and are under, were fre
quent after the reformation from Popery, and in the

p 3

2i4 APPENDIX.

Hays of our forefathers-, even thofe of convulfive-
like motions: this I fhall prove, I hope, to the con
viction of every intelligent and unprejudiced reader,
and by doing fo, clear up fome paffages in the author
of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures, relative to this
fubjecl:, and which are not at this diftance of time
well underftood.

That there were many under bodily diftreffes,
when firft awakened in many parifhes of Cunningham
in the Weft of Scotland, from the year 1625 to 1630,
hath already been proven in the Preface to this Nar
rative j and therefore I infill not upon it further here,
but proceed to another evidence which is the firft to
this branch, namely, the cafe of the people in Loch-
lairn, in Ireland. The account that the Reverend
Mr. Flemming gives of it, is, Great Appear. Edin.
1678. pag. 20 1. * When the gofpel was flourishing

* in the church of Ireland, by the miniftry of fome

* eminent fervants of Chrift, who were labouring
' there fome years before the rebellion, and a moft

* extraordinary time of the power of the Spirit fol-

* lowing the ordinances, when others of Satan's de-

* vices, to caft a let in the way, had proved abortive;

* this great deftroyer was at laft let loofe in a ilrange

* manner to effay a counterfeit of the work of the Lord
' there, which was then fo effectual to the converfion

* of many. This firft began about Lochlairn upon

* feveral ignorant perfons, who in the midft of the

* public worfhip fell a breathing and panting, as

* thofe who had run long with ftrange pangs like

* convulfions: yea, thus were affe&ed, whatever

* purpofe was preached, even by fuch minifters who
' were known enemies to the truth, the number of

* which increafed through feveral parifhes for a time.
« At firft both minifters and chriftians were put to a

* (land, but after upon further difcovery of the ten-
€ dency of this way, and found no folid convincing

APPENDIX. 415

work, which had therewith any fenfe of fin, or
panting after a Saviour, did quickly perceive this
to be one of the depths of Satan, and his defign to
(lander and difgrace the work of the Lord. Yea
it was evident how after fuch did continue rude,
profane and ignorant.'

Mr. Robert Blair, who was witnefs to this, and
a£led a worthy part, narrates this, even thus, in the
manufcript Hiflory of his Life, written by himfelf,
pag. /e>2, 103. ' The gofpel thus ilouriihing by the
' hand of his fervants before-mentioned, no oppo-

* fition being made thereto, all Satan's devices prov-

* ing abortive, he was at lad let look to devife a
€ pernicious device, there being many converts in
c all thefe congregations: the deftroyer let himfeif

* mainly againft the people about Lochlairn, by this

* ftratagem; he playing the ape, did upon fome ig-
' norant perfons counterfeit the work of the Lord:

* in the midft of public wormip thefe perfons fell a

* mourning, and fome of them were afflicted with

* pangs like convulfions, and daily the number of
' them increafed. At firft both paflors and people,
' pitying them, had charitable thoughts of them,
f thinking it probable that it was the work of the

* Lord: but thereafter in conference they could find
' nothing to confirm thefe charitable thoughts; they

* could neither perceive any fenfe of their fmfulnefs,
' nor any panting after a Saviour; fo the minifter of
' the place did invite fome of his brethren to come

* thither, and with him to examine the matter: com-
s ing and conferring with thefe perfons, we appre-

* bended it to be a mere del u (ion, and cheat of Satan,

* to (lander and difgrace the work of the Lord/

The reader will doubtlefs obferve with me, Firflt
That neither minifters nor chriftians concluded that
thefe perfons were under a cheat and delufion bccaufe
thefe perfons fell a mourning in the midft of public
worfhip, and were afflicled with pangs like convul-
P 4

216 APPENDIX.

ilons; for they had charitable thoughts of them for
a time, thinking it probable that it was the work of
the Lord: but they concluded it from their being
under no folid conviction, which had therewith any
fenfe of fin, and panting after a Saviour, which might
be the caufe of fuch bodily effects, idly, That thefe
great and gcdly miniflers, fuch as MefTrs. Blair,
Cunningham, Livingfton, &c. judged that it was
the device of the devil to ape, counterfeit, and bring
forth fomething in refemblance to the work of the
Lord, in converting great numbers by their miniftry
in thefe bounds, to {lander and difgrace the work of
the Lord, and prejudice men againft it. There mufl
therefore have been fomething among thefe nume
rous converts, that this was an apeing, counterfeit,
snd refemblance of: it is evident that it was not of
any inward fpiritual work; for it is objected, They
were ilupidly ignorant, without any fenfe of fin, or
panting after a Saviour: it could be in nothing then
but in their public mourning, and pangs like con-
vulfions. There can no other reality be afligned that
thefe were a counterfeit and refemblance of, and
therefore that great work of converfion in Ireland
was attended with fuch bodily effects, at lead upon
feveral of them, who were really converted, and this
explains the Rev. Mr. Flemming's meaning in the
account he gives of this great work of converfion in
Ireland, Fulfill, of the Scrip, pag. 265. « I mall here

* alfo inftance that folemu and great work of God,
c which was in the church of Ireland, fome years be-

* fore the fall of Prelacy, about the year 1628, and

* fome years thereafter, which as many great and

* folid chriftians yet alive can witnefs, who were

* there prefent, was a bright and hot funfhine of the
( gofpel; yea, may with fobriety be faid to have been

* one of the largeft manifeftations of the Spirit, and
' of the moil folemn times of the down-pouring
c thereof fince the days of the apoflles, where the

APPENDIX. 217

c power of God did fenftbly accompany the wordy 'with
4 an unufual motion upon the hearers^ and a very great
* tack as to the converfion of fouls to Chrift.' That
unufual motion upon the hearers, was the effects
that the power of God upon their fouls had upon
their bodies-, at lead, of ibme of them, of which
thefe at Lochlairn were the counterfeit: what con
firms this further, is, That Mr. Robert Blair relates
in his Life, ' That he, Mr. Livingfton, and fome
others, were falfely accufed by one Mr. Henry
Lefly, as if they had taught the neceffity of the
new birth, by bodily pangs and throws, notwith-
ftanding of their declaration anent the cafe of
Lochlairn, which falfe accufation brought them
into many years trouble/ It was doubtlefs the
bodily diftrefles frequent amongft the awakened,
that gave rife to this falfe charge.

The fecond evidence that bodily efFe&s of a work
of conviction, and of the terrors of the law, were
more frequent in the days of our fathers, is the ac
count that the author of the Fulfilling of the Scrip
tures giveth of the converfion at the Kirk of Shots,
pag. 263. 'I.muit alfo mention that folemn com
munion at the Kirk of Shots, 2oth of June 1630,
at which time there was fo convincing an appear
ance of God, and down-pouring of the Spirit, even
in an extraordinary way, that did follow the ordi
nances, efpecially that fermon on the Monday 2ift
of June, with arrange unufual motion of the hearers^
who in a great multitude were there converted of
divers ranks, that it was known, which I can fpeak
on fure grounds, near five hundred had at that
time a difcernible change wrought on them, of
whom mod proved lively chriilians afterwards.*
By this ftrange unufual motion in the hearers,
nothing elfe can be meant, but the vifible, fenfible,
and bodily effects of their inward and fpiritual con-

218 APPENDIX.

cern and exercife; as hath been already (hewn under
the former evidence: to this agrees the traditionary-
relation of this event. An aged man told me lalt
fummer, That an old man, who lived about the
Shots, whom he ferved in his younger years, told
him, That feverals upon that remarkable Monday
after fermon, lay fo long as if they had been dead,
that their friends and others fcarce thought they
would recover.

A third evidence, is a (lory related to me by the
Jate godly Mr. James Stirling, miniiter of the gofpel
in the Barony of Glafgow, concerning Mr. James
Hutchefon, fomewhile minifter of the gofpel at Kil-
iallan, in the prefbytery of Paifley, and which he had
from Mr. Hutcheion's own mouth. Mr. Hutchefon
had been minifter at Killallan, fome years before th*
outing of the Prefbyterian miniiiers, at the reftora-
tion of King Charles II. as he was for many years
after the happy Revolution. Under the former
prefoytery he had been appointed to preach upon a
Lord's day at Lochwinnoch, a parifh at no great
diftance from Killallan, for fome reafon or other:
he purpofed to preach a fermon he had preached the
preceeding Sabbath in his own congregation: while
the Pfalms were (inging in the morning, in the con
gregation at Lochwinnoch, he obferved feveral of
his own parifh, who had heard the fermon defigned
by him, enter into the kirk: this put him into fome
confufion, and he is ftrongly inclined to eflay to
preach upon fome other text and fubje£h he was
determined to preach upon Song ii. 3. Becauje of the
favour of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment
foured forth; therefore do the virgins love thee. Con
cerning which the aged man ufed in a Scottim and
homely way to fay, That before he had his text opened
up there •were Jive or fix fpraivling before him; and
fpake of it frequently as a day of the Mediator's

APPENDIX. 219

power, and of his miniftry being frequently blefied
thus in thefe days of power. I have heard other
minifters relate this flory concerning Mr. Hutchefon.

The fourth evidence is what the Rev. Mr. Alex
ander Webfter obferves, Letter concerning Divine
Influence, &c. pag. 37, 38. firft Edit. * It is well

* known, and can be vouched by feveral perfons yet
f living, of known character and veracity, who have

* feen and heard what pafles at Cambuflang, &c.
' among fuch as are affected in the manner objected

* to, that they have frequently obferved, in different

* parts of the country, convictions for (in, attended
with the like bodily diftrefs; many being carried
out of the churches Jlaking, trembling, fainting, al-
mojl dead, under the miniftry of the Reverend Ma
ilers John Hepburn of Ore, Andrew Darling of
Kinnoul, William Stewart at Blairgowrie, John
Moncrieff of College church, Edinburgh, &c. and
that many of thefe people, not a few of whom are
ftill in life, give to this day evident proof of the

* reality of their concern, by their fedate and reli-

* gious converfation.'

If any fhall object the fcrimp and fhort account,
that we have of thefe bodily diftreffes attending a
work of conviction, in the days of our fathers. I
anfwer, That as we have reafon to blefs the Lord,
for the hints we have, which are of fo great ufe to
flop the mouths of adverfaries at this time; fo the
true reafon, why we have no more, is, That thefe
bodily diftreffes were fo frequent and notour, as at
tending a work of conviction, and deep foul-exercife
in many, that it never entered into their minds to re
gard them as extraordinary, and record them as fuch.
No ferious perfon looked upon them as incompatible
with a work of the Spirit of God; and they never
dreamed that they would be fo unfrequent in a bar-

220 APPENDIX.

ren time of the church, fuch as we have been for
many years under, as that any pretending to ortho
doxy in the faith, and ferious exercifes of religion,
would have quarrelled them, Humbled at them, and
objected again ft the operations of the Holy Spirit,
becaufe of them. This obfervation may be confirm
ed, from the way of fpeaking, our godly and judi
cious forefathers ufed, in difcourfmg upon the heads
of conviction and humiliation. It is fufficient, in
this Appendix, to confirm it, from forne paffages in
the Fulfilling of the Scriptures; where the author
fpe?4rs of thefe bodily effects, as notour in his time
and before it, and what nobody doubted of.

The firft is, Fulfill, of the Scrip, pag. 143. « The
marvellous effects of this change, Does it not wit-
nefs this is no fancy or delufion, when men are
reached with fuch a ftroke, and by one word, as
hath made the moft ftout-hearted, and the mod
daring to tremble, and to JJjenv by their very counte
nance, that there is another tribunal than man's,
before which they are arraigned.' Is not a work
of conviction mewing itfelf by the very countenance,
and the trembling of the body, not in men of weak
fpirits, but the rnoft ftout-hearted and daring, fpoken
of here, as a thing notour and uncontroverted, and
not looked upon as extraordinary? And again, pag.
145. « Would you debate the efficacy and power of

* that which iliould melt and diffolve the hardeft
' (tone? And may you not wonder what a power
' that muft be, which will make men melt and diffolve

* in tears, and Jl and trembling before the word, who

* through their life were known to be moft obdured
'and ft up id? Tea, is not this great change fometimes

* with fuch terror and doivn-cafting u/Jjered in, that may
€ convince onlookers, it is a matter of great cjl earnejl, and
f no counterfeit.'' Are not melting into tears, trem
bling before the word, fuch effects of terror and

APPENDIX.

down-cafting, as by-danders may fee, and look upon
with their eyes, effects upon the body? And doth
not our authors fpeak of them as generally known?

I (hall only add for confirmation of this, that paf-
fage of godly Mr. Rutherfoord in his Survey of the
Spiritual Antichrift, which I formerly quoted in my
third Letter to Mr. Fifher; it is to be found in ths
forefaicl book, pag. 303. * For though all titterings
f and (tirrings of the foul that flow from the Spirit
c be warranted by the word, yet 1 am ufTured feme
c are, and have been, even in our time, fo changed
( from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord, that
' their faces have fhined like the face of an angel;

* they have been at finging. and a defire to fnout for

* joy, yea to leap and dance, and have been fo filled

* with the fulnefs of God, that they could not fpeak,

* and have been like veflels filled with new wine,

* that wanted vent, that one faici, Lord, h'Ad thy hand,

* thy fervatn is an old vejfil, arid can hold no more of thy
€ new ivine. And another cried, Full, full pained

* luith a fulnefs of God, with marrow and fatnefs,

* Hab. 3. — which I am fure is the joy unfpeakable and
1 full of ~ glory , fpokeri of i Pet. i. 8 and ike begun fit 1-*

* nefs of God, Eph iii. 10. And a bodily foul-ficknefs

* for Chrilt, a fit of the fv/oon that John fell into,
c Rev. i. 17. And when Ifavu him, I fell at his feet as
€ dead: It is true, that was a prophetical extacy in
4 John like that of Daniel, chap. iv. 7, 8, 9, 10.
c in which the operation of the bodily fenfes, or
' organical actions were fufpended, fo as the pro-
' phets in thefe cafes could not eat nor drink, fo by

* proportion here I know fome ftricken with palenefs,

* trembling, and deprived of the ufe of the body for

* a time, which I judge to be a trembling at the word:
c one a dying faid, / find a Jlrong rank fmdl of per-
' fume, and the fivcetnefs I feel, but cannot fpeak. An-

* other faid, / enjoy, I enjay. Another, I fee heaven

222 APPENDIX.

* opened, and the high throne prepared. Another could

* do nothing but fmile and look like heaven. All

* thefe to me are the over-bank and high tides of the
' Spirit by way of redundancy acting upon the body,

* becaufe of its near union with the foul, -and 1 know
' warranted by the word, produce no new doctrine;
f but how the word and the Spirit in thefe ?.cl:ings

* are united, and move together, I confefs I am ig-

* norant.' From all this it plainly appears that bo
dily effects following the operations of the Holy Spi
rit upon the foul were no rare thing in the days of
our fathers.

The hiflorical inftances that follow are of the fame
fort with thefe in the Article, who imagined they faw
extraordinary things, either good or evil. I do not
pretend to determine whether the perlbns, in thefe
inftances, really faw and heard what they thought
they faw and heard, or, if all was imaginary and
fi&itious. It is the fame thing in this argument,
whether the reader judge the one way or the other.
Admit only that the perfons were under operations
of the Holy Spirit, and in a ftate of grace, or in a
direcl: tendency to it: this I am pretty fure the fierceft
part of the oppofition will admit of, and in this cafe
all I want natively followeth, viz. That fuch things,
real or imaginary, are not incompatible or incon-
iiftent with a work of the Holy Spirit, and no evi
dence that fuch perfons are under the delufion of the
devil, as to a work of conviction, or converfion upon
their fouls: for if it be alledged, That all thefe ap
pearances are delufions of the devil, or the efFe&s of
a fick imagination at the time. The cafe of the few
amongft us, and of the perfons, the inftances of whom
are given, muft be the fame, and whatever is inforced
againft the one, equally affe£ts the other. If it be
faid, That all is real in the hiftorical inftances, they,
who fay fo, (hall never be able to prove that our peo-

APPENDIX. 223

pie were more liable to be deceived and impofed
upon than thefe. Herein they are alike, that both
imagined they faw and heard fuch things.

The firft infb.nce is of that great and good man
Mr. Robert Blair. He writes in his life, pag. 6.
T refolved to watch at my ftudies every other night,
and to carry this quietly, not being perceived, I
could find no other room for the purpofe, but a
chamber wherein none were permitted to lie, by
reafon of apparitions m the night-feafon; yea, I
myfelf, had therein feen a fpirit, in likenefs of one
of my condifciples, whem, i having a lighted can
dle in my hand, and fuppofing verily it had been
that boy, chafed to a corner of the chamber, where
he feemed to hide himftif; but, when I offered to
pull him out, I could find nothing: yet in that fame
chamber I refolved to fpend my watching nights,
and did fo in the whole fummer, and was never
troubled, nor terrified a whit: and though I was
carried on herein only by an ardent defire of pro-
fecuting my ftudies diligently, yet thou, O Lord,
had another defign, even to fix my faith on thee;
for thus thou taught me that devils were chained
with chains of darknefs to the judgment of the lalt
day, fo that they could not, nor durft not appear,
far lefs moled without thy permiflion, arid that if
thou permittedft any fuch thing, thou wouldft make
it work for good to me devoted to thee, whom thou
haft taken into protection.' This was in the twen
tieth year of his age.

The fecond inftance is of John Stevenfon, land-
labourer in the parim of Daily, in Carrick. The
account of this good man's experiences is publifhed
by the Rev. Mr. William Cupples, minifter of the
gofpel at Kirk-Ofwald, and printed at Glafgow 1729.
He had been a great fufferer by the perfecution be-

224 APPENDIX.

fore the Revolution, and died 1728. Mr. Cupples
gives him a great character for knowledge, judgment,
experience and devotion, beyond any chriiiian he
ever knew. Page 42, 43, & 44. of the forefaid
book, he fays, * That about midnight he went into
4 a fummer-feat, in the garden of Craigdarroch, to
4 pray for the life of a young child in the family,
' nurfed by his wife, the child being lick, and to ap-
1 pearance in a dying condition:' while he was there
earneitly pleading for the child's life, he fuith, * That
« the terror of Satan fell upon me in fuch a way, that
* I immediately concluded, the enemy was at hand,

< and wanted to fright me from my prayers (for I
« was not ignorant of his devices) wherefore I refolved
« I would continue in the duty, on my doing fo, I

< heard a voice juft before me, on the other fide of

< the hedge, and it feemed to be like the groaning of
« an aged man: it continued for fome time: I know
« no man could be there; for on the other fide of the

< hedge, where I heard the groaning, was a great
*" (tank or pool, I nothing doubted, but it was Satan,

< and I guefled his defign ; but flill I went on to beg
« the child's life; at length he roared and made a

< noife like a bull, and that very loud: from all this

< I concluded, that I had been provoking God fome

< way or other in the duty, and that he was angry

< with me, and had let the enemy loofe on me, and

< might give him leave to tear me to pieces. This

< made me entreat of God to (hew me wherefore he

< contended, and begged he would rebuke Satan:
« the enemy continued to make a noife like a bull,

< and feemed to be coming about the hedge to the

< door of the fummer-feat, bellowing as he came

< alongft; upon which I got up from my knees, and
« turned my face tov/ards the way I thought the e-

< nemy was coming, and looked to God dill that he

< might rebuke him; after that he made a noife juft

< like a maftiff-dog in great trouble, this was not fo

A P P E N 13 I X. 22$

terrible to me us the other. I refolved to (land (Hll,

and fee if he appeared to me in any fhape; but in-

ftead of that he went into a place hard by, full of

netdes, and there groaned as formerly? I heard him

very diilinclly, and compofedly, y :c 1 thought I

would go in and think what could be the meaning

of this difpenfation.' He proceeds to tell, that tho*

it was hinted to him, that he v/as faulty, for want

of fubmiffion to the will of Cod, as to the child's

life, yet he went to the fore fait! place, and tritd to

plead a fecond time for the child's life, but then

thought Satan was ready to devour him; where-

he fubmits the child's life to the good pleafure of

God, pleading for the falvaiion of his foul, and is

no further troubled at this time.

The third inftance is of the Reverend Mr. James
Barry, a diffenting minifter of the gofpel in Ireland.
In the extratl of his experiences, intituled, A Reviv
ing Cordial for a ftn-ftck dejpairing joitl, printed at
Edinburgh 1741. He gives an account that he was
awakened, while he was hearing a fermon at Dublin,
by this thought darting into his mind, That he had,
the day before, received the facrament unworthily,
which was backed with I Cor. xi. 26. For I.e thut
eateth and dnnketh unworthily , eateth and drinketh
damnation to bimfelfy not d'ifcerning the lord's b$dyt
which was no part of any thing uttered by the
preacher: hence he concluded himfclf to be a loit
and undone man, and faith, page 35. * My fpirit
c was in fuch an amazing fright, and overwhelming
' conflernation, to think that I was moth certainly
' damned to all intents and purpofes, that indeed I
' thought verily all the people in the place were a
* fwarm or a legion of devils, which God in revenge-
' ful wrath had fent from the bottomlefs pit to guard
' and attend my guilty foul thither.'

He declareth further, 'That his convtclions and

226 APPENDIX,

fears, arifing from them, had fuch influence upo*
him, that he frequently fell a fweating, quaking and
trembling: he continued between three and four
years under this law-work, and fpirit of bondage;
being deftitute of all inftru&ion and advice from any
who had experience of the Lord's dealings with the
fouls of Tinners in his circumftances. Upron the
day when his fenfible relief firft came, Ifa. xliii. 25.
run in his thoughts from morning to bed-time, 7,
even /, am he that blotteih out thy tran/grcfftons for
mine own fake, and ivill not remember thy fins ; At
night he ilole to his chamber by moon-light: he was
all of a fweat, and ftrange horror fell on him, oc-
cafioned by the conceit and apprehenfions he had,
that the devil accompanied him as a man up flairs,
whofe fteppings along with his own he (Irongly
imagined he heard, which caufed him to keep his
eyes clofed, for fear he mould fee the devil in a vi-
fible fhape. While he was engaged in the duty of
meditation, the Lord was pleafed to fhine upon the
forefaid fcripture, gave him a view of glorious Chrift,
and of falvation in the way of fovereign free grace
by faith in the Lord Jefus, and to enable him to
clofe with Chriit as difcovered, filling him at the
fame time with inexpreflible joy, and ravifhment,
fuch as he thought would caufe his very foul to fly
out of his body, and his body to burft afunder. All
this fell out between 1660 and 16^0.

The fourth Inftance is of Elizabeth Cairns, a good
woman, born in the year 1685, and died 1741 ; fhc
Memoirs of her life, written by herfelf, were pu-
Oiiflied by the Seceders. It remains now no quef-
rion that there are confiderable alterations in th«
printed copy from the original manufcript. A cor-
refpondent of mine writes, that upon his comparing
a manufcript copy with the printed, he found, Firft,
That wherever they met with the vrotAJbakew /hak~

APPENDIX. 227

i?jg> as befalling her in her diftrefs, they induftri-
oufly left that out. 2d/y9 Wherever there is a viii-
on, it is either altogether omitted, or turned into
a faith's view of what, h. t fays, flie really law with
her bodily eyes. 3 *//)', In two or three places (he
fpeaks of being deprived of the ufe of her icafon for
a time, which was oc.cufioned by her exctfs of trou
ble: this they altogether leave out. I find the fame
from another manufcript-copy now before me: it
belongs to a gentleman who was very intimate with
the faid Elizabeth; he gavq it her to revife, which
Ihe did, and only faid, That there were fome things
in it not right worded; but as to the fads they may
be all depended upon. The reafon of its being fo
long in publifning, and of the alterations in it, was,
That, as it flood, it would too much vindicate the
Lord's work at Cambuflang.

In the Memoirs of this good woman's life, there
are inftances fimilar or like to almoft every effecl: of
inward diftrefs among our people, mentioned in this
article. I fhall extract instances of all thefe forts
both from the printed copy and from the manufcript,
appealing at the fame time to the original copy given
to the publifher, where the alterations are in the
printed copy from the manufcript.

Page 1 16, 117. (lie writes, ' One night when 1
had lain down to fleep, there came a great rufhing
to the door of the room, and dang it up; I called»
but there was no anfwer made me, and immedi
ately, it was fuggefted to my mind, it was the de
vil, and I being alone, great terror of mind fcized
me, which occafioned an indifpofition of body for
the time of three weeks, for my fpirits and courage
are ftill but weak, by reafon of the former conflicts
I had with Satan, and his temptations. So all the
time of this three weeks the tempter was ftill pay-
ing me the other vifit.
* There was another night I was lying waking, .

228 A P P E N D I X.

* and there came fomething that chopped three times
4 at my bed; but thefe words were fent to my mind
' with power, Be not difmayedy I am thy God> I fa xli.
' 10. 1 <wiil be a ivall of fire about thee^ Zeuh. ii. 5.
4 This guarded all my fpirits, and fo fear went off.

* Another night J heard the chairs drawing thro'

* the room, when I knew there was no mortal to do
' it j after this I had a pleafant night in prayer, and
' my foul was both rilled and refrefhed; and I, imme-
' diately before I fellafleep, heard a noife like a con-

* fufion of voices at a diftance} but it came nearer

* me, and gave the door of the room a great ftroke
€ that frighted me very fore; but that word came with

* power, that Chrift faid to Peter, Luke xxii. 3 i. Si-

* mont Simon ) Satan hath de/tred to have thee, that he
' might ftft thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that

* thy faith fail not.

Page 54, 55. ' Satan alfo continued reprefenting
c himfelf to my fancy, in feveral fhapes, and in the

* duty of prayer he fet moil furiouily on me, fo that
' I could not continue any time. One night in pray-

* er he made a vifible approach, fo that I was forced
' to fly out of the place.

Page 35. * I remember, another day after this> I

* fat down with my Bible in my hand, and as my
( cuftom was, as I was aiking ablefling before I read,

* immediately there fhined a light in my foul that re-

* prefented to my view thofe glorious myileries, that

* fo tranfported me that I could read none, but turn-
4 ed over the leaves, and beheld the glory that fhined

* in it; fo I laid by my Bible, arid fell to prayer and

* praife, and enjoyed for a moment thofe divine

* blinks/ The reader will obferve, That (he fays,
She could not read" her Bible, but turned over the
leaves, and beheld the glory that fhined in it. Doth
not this exprefs fome vifible glory that fhe beheld?
80 that after all the alterations made upon this paf-
foge, the footfteps of a vifion flill remain. It runs

APPENDIX. 229

thus in the manufcript, and I appeal to a fight of the
original copy if it be not thus: * I remember on an
other day, I fat down with my Bible in my hand,
and as 1 was wont to do, I was afking a bleffing
before I would read, and immediately there ihined
a light about me, and I looked up to heaven, and
behold the vail was rent, and the glory of that light
was fo dazzling, that it darkned my fight, and I could
not read one word, but turned over the leaves, and
beheld the glory that mined upon it, and this light
was brighter than the light of the day, although it
was then about the height of it, and the fun {hone
in his ftrength: fo I arofe and laid by my Bible,
and fell a praying, and enjoyed for a moment this
divine blink.'

In three feveral places there is a reference made
to a vifion (he had in the twenty-third year of her
age; the firft is page 73. * Thus 1 went on rejoicing

* for feveral weeks; but yet, alas! my fun was dill
1 as in a cloud, according to the firft part of the fi-

* militude, mentioned as above/ In the manufcript

* it is, according to the firft part of the VISION"

* formerly mentioned. The fecond reference is,
page 74. * O! now I faw the firft part of the fimili-

* tude formerly mentioned made out, for my light
c compared to the fun in fummer, was now under a

* cloud, yet I was made to believe that it was to mine

* again, but in a way different from what I had for-
{ meriy enjoyed; but how thefe would be I could not
f understand as yet.' In the manufcript it is thus;

* O now I faw the fecond part of the vifion formerly

* marked made out, for my light compared to the fun
< was now not only in a cloud, but was gone down,
c &c. as in the print. The third reference is, p. 8(5.
' O! now my light, compared to the fun, did again
c arife, according to the third part of the iimilitude,
f recorded in the twentieth and third year of my life,
' yet in a different way from what I did formerly en-

APPENDIX.

* joy.' In the manufcript it is thus-, < O now my
' light compared to the fun did again arife, according

* to the third pait of the tuifiony &c.*

Now let the reader look into the twenty-third year
of her life, and try if he can find the vifion, or the
fimilitude referred to, thefe three times: it is not to
be found there. The cafe is plain: the perfons, who
have made the alterations, have left out this vifion
altogether, and forgetting they had done fo, they
kept in the threefold reference to it, as mentioned
above.

I (hall fupply it from the manufcript: it is alfo one
of thefe places where (lie tells, That through the
violence of her exercife the was deprived of the ex-
crcife of her reafon for a time, and which is every
where in the printed copy omitted. Thus (lie writes,

* And while in this cliftrefs, I could get no relief

* from human help; my gracious God remembred
' me, and paid me another vifit. One night in fe-

* cret prayer, / was deprived of my reafon, fo what

* patted I cannot tell, but when I came to myfelf, I
' found the felt darknefs, that had been in my foul
< thefe four years, was in fome meafure removed,

* and there remained a light on my foul, which
c ftrengthened me and revived my fpirits. O! here

* it was made known to me by a fimiiitude in a vifion,

* that my former enjoyments mould be returned.

* The fimiiitude was, The natural fun going in a

* cloud full feen, and yet a dark light, and thus went
9 to the place of its going down, and immediately

* rofe again from the fame place, and went up the
' elements with a clear light, and it went in a con-
' trary courfe to the fun when it goes in the firma-

* ment; in this I was informed, that my light mould
9 be clouded with much darknefs for a time, yet it
' mould arife and mount to its former clearnefs,
9 though in a way different from what I did enjoy
9 formerly: all this paft in the twenty-third year of

APPENDIX. 251

c my age, being the fourth and laft year of my dark

* cloud/ That all is left out, to which the forefaid
patfages refer, is undeniable: that the manufcript
pailage is genuine, will appear to every unprejudiced
perfori, by comparing it with the three referring
paflages. How much the clippers and new coiners
of thefe Memoirs have altered them here, not only
by leaving out the vition, but other wife, will appear
by comparing the manufcript with the print: having
fet down the firft to fave the readers trouble, I (hall
aifo fet down the printed account from page 62.
' And while I was in this diftrefs, and could get no

* help from human hand, my gracious God remem-

* bered me with another vifit with his own falvation,

* which was one night in fecret prayer; after this

* feafonable appearance of God for my relief, I found

* that the felt darknefs, that had been on my foul

* thefe four preceeding years, was in fome meafure

* removed, and I was again reftored to enjoy the light

* of the Lord's countenance, which at this time both
' ftrengthened and revived both my foul and natural

* fpirits; and by an impreflion fixt in my mind I was

* made to expecVand believe, that I was to be reftored
4 to former light and confolations in Chrift, but by

* other means and inftruments, than formerly I did
' enjoy. This difcovery I had in the end of the

* twentieth and third year of my life, being the fourth
' year of this dark cloud.' This manufcript account
of the vifion agreeth with the manufcript my forefaid
judicious correfpondent, from whom I had this re
mark, made ufe of. The reader may judge from
this what great alterations thefe mentioned have
made upon other parts of thefe Memoirs.

The next paflage is fimilar to the woman men
tioned in the Article, and fome very few who ima
gined they faw hell like a furnace, mentioned by
Mr. Edwards. The printed copy, page 60. « I was
« one day on my knees before God in prayer, and **>

232 APPENDIX.

* I thought. both hell and heaven were realized to my
' mind, a»d faw, as it were, the devil mocking at
' me, and ready to pull me unto him; yet, in the
( mean time of this extremity, glorious Chrift ap-
f p caved for my relief, who hath the chain in his own
*hand that holds the devil, fo that he could not win
f at me.' The manufcript hath it thus; * One day

* I was upon my knees before God in prayer, and I

* thought hell opened before me, and 1 faw the devil
c mocking rr.e, and ready to pull me into him; yet
c when I looked up to heaven, I faw his chain in the

< Mediator's hand.' The next paflage contains her
view with her bodily eyes, as (he thought of both
heaven and hell opened. I fhall give the reader firft
the printed, and then the manufcript account of this,
that he may compare the one with the other, and
form a judgment therefrom of other-like paflages,
page 2. ' All this was fet before me, and I was made

< to go through every ftep of man's mifery, with ap-
c plication to myfelf, by which I came under fuch
' awful impreffions of the holinefs and righteoufnefs

* of God, as if I had feen the fword of juftice drawn,

* and pointed againft me, and as if hell had been
( open before me, and I juftly deferving to be caft
( into it: this being fo itrongly impreiled on my
c mind, I was feized with great terror, but it pleafed

* a merciful and gracious God to cover thefe fearful

* and terrible views from my mind in fome meafure,
€ yet got no fenfible outgate, but remained for feve-
4 ral days in great terror, fearing every moment that

* the earth would open and fwallow me up.' The
manufcript hath it thus; c Now I was made to go

* through every ftep of man's mifery by the fall, with
' application to myfelf, during which, one day I was
« walking in the fields, and faw the clouds divided
c above my head, and heaven open, in which I faw
6 God with the fword of juflice in his hand; and
c again the earth opened before me, I faw hell, and

APPENDIX. 233

4 heard the dreadful yelling of the damned there.
c Thus I ftood between heaven and hell, and faw the
c fword of juftice pointed at my unworthy head, and
f hell ready to devour me, which I faw myfelf a juil
' deferver of. This dreadful, fcene (truck me with
' horror, both of body and mind, and I thought I
' mould have loll my reafon; yet it pleafed the mer-

* cifui and gracious God to cover the vifible fight of

* thefe things from me, which calmed my fpirits a,

* little,' &c. as in the printed copy.

The next paflage contains a bodily fight of glori
ous Chrift. The disfigured account of this in the
printed copy, is page 29, & 30. * One night, in

* fecret prayer, I was fo raifed in my foul, that in

* fome meafure I may fay, whether in the body or
4 out of the body, I cannot tell; but this 1 do remem-

* ber, I was turned to behold the glory, from which

* there mined a light unto my foul, that flrengthened

* and capacitated it, to behold glorious objects, and
' unexpreffible myfteries, that were reprefented to

* my view; and here I was allowed, as it were, to
' come near God, and got a foui-fatisfying blink of
c his glory, and would have been content to have lived
1 fo to eternity. And while I was thus beholding,
1 and enjoying, it was darted into my mind, as if a
( voice had fpoken to me, Thy name is written among
' the living in Jerufalem; and immediately the vail co-

* vered the glory which I beheld.' The manufcript
hath it, * One night in fecret prayer, I was, as it
' were, out of reafon, where, whether in the body,

* or out of the body, I cannot tell; but this I do re-

* member, there were two armies appeared in my

* view; one was the devil with a black band of infernal

* fpirits-, the other was glorious Chrift attended with
' a mining and glorious company: In a little time the
1 devil vanifhed out of fight and his attendants; then

* my eyes were turned to behold the glory that did
c appear: in the mean time there mined a light upon

234 APPENDIX.

* me, by which I faw the heavens opened, and there

* was allowed to behold unexpreffible wonders, fuch

* as I could never tell the world of. And while I
f beheld the throne, and him that fat thereon, from

* his glory there came a voice, which faid, Thy
4 name is written among the living in Jerufalemy with

* this the vail covered the glory, and with this I was
' reftored to my reafon again.'

I (hall next give inftances of her body being made
to make and tremble, and be as one dead for a time,
by the fpiritual diftrefles and exercifes of her mind,
which words are altogether left out in the printed
copy, page 3. After this I had fuch impreffions of
that God that made me, that no children's play could
long divert me: The manufcript hath it, ' After this
' I had fuch impreffions of God as made me {hake,

* fo that no children's play could long divert me.

* Page 43. One day about three o'clock in the after-
a noon, I was in meditation before prayer, and fud-
'* denly there arofe an objection in my mind, what
c ground haft thou for thefe comfortable hopes and

* expectations that thou haft entertained the laft year?

* And with this there fell a great,confufion and dark-

* nefs on my mind, and a terror feized me. I re-
' mained in this condition for two hours.' The ma
nufcript runs thus, ' One day about three in the

* afternoon, I was in meditation before prayer, and

* / heard a mice which faid, What ground haft thou
' for thefe thy hopes? With which there fell a great

* darknefs upon my mm&,andgreatdarknefs and terror

* feized my body. Thus I remained for the time of

* two hours.' Printed copy, page 98. s After this,
' one day as I was in prayer, it pleafed a fovereign
f gracious God, as it were, to rent the vail, where I

* met with a renewed difcovery of glorious Chrift,

* in the fweet rays of his glory, and manifeftations of
f his divine love, that ravifhed me and brought me

* near hand, and fo filled me with fuch a fenfe of his

APPENDIX. 235

f love, that I could hold no more/ The manufcript
hath it thus, * After this I was in prayer, and holy

* fovereignty rent the vail, and glorious Chriil ap-
' pearecl with fuch rays of glory, and manifefted love,
' that Jlruck me down as dead, £c.' The reafon of
their leaving out the flaking of her body, and her
being (truck down as dead, is plain and obvious, it
would have anfwerec! the objections againft the work
of God at Cambuflang and elfewhere, taken from
thefe effects upon the body; and yet the publi(her$
and revifers of thefe memoirs havt through inadver
tency left an effect of this kind unexpunged, page
119.' And it pleafed a gracious God to draw afide
' the vail, and filled me full of a ferife of his Jove,

* ihztftnote me down as dead.1

I might have made feveral other remarks upon the
printed copy of thefe Memoirs, but this not being
the proper place I wave them. If the reader want
my fentiments of this cafe of Elizabeth Cairns, they
are in a few words; I am perfuaded fhe was a good
woman, I do not look upon the vifions and other
things mentioned as incompatible with a good and
gracious (late, neither do I look upon thefe as any
part of her goodnefs, or evidence of it: which arc
precifely my fentiments, with reference to any few
of the people who have been thus affected, at this
time, here or elfewhere.

I mall conclude this Appendix with an inftance
where there was nothing imaginary, of the effect of
fpiritual joy upon the body. The cafe concerns the
late judicious and godly Mr. Flavel: he narrates it of
himfe^f, under the name of a minifler in the third
perfon, vol ift. Edin. edit. 1731. page 326. The
reader may fee it there at full length. The following
paffage is enough to the prefent purpofe. ' Such

* was the intention of his mind, fuch the raviftiing

* taftes of heavenly joys, and fuch the full affurancc

23<5 APPENDIX.

of his intereft therein, that he utterly loft the fight
and fenfe of this world, and all the concerns thereof,
and for fome hours knew no more where he was,
than if he had been in a deep deep upon his bed.
At laft he began to perceive himfelf very faint, and
almoft choaked with blood, which running in abun
dance from hrs nofe, had decoloured his clothes
and his horfe,"from the (boulder to the hoof: he
found himfelf almoft fpent, and nature to faint
under the preffure of joy unfpeakable and unfup-
portable; and at laft perceiving a fpring of water
in his way, he, with feme difficulty, alighted to
cleanfe and cool his face and hands, which were
drencht in blood, tears, and fweat. When he came
to his inn at night, he greatly admired how he came
thither, that his horfe, without his direction, had
brought him thither, and that he fell not all that
day, which paft not without feveral trances of con-
fiderable continuance.'
From all thefe inftances it appears that there is no
thing new in the bodily effects mentioned in this ar
ticle, much lefs any thing in them inconfiftent with
a work of the Spirit of God upon the foul.

I fhall conclude this point with an account of
this good work in congregations to the Northward
of Glafgow, fmce October laft, leaving the Journals
defigned for this article to the next Print.

The obfervable ftate of things in this congregation,
during the months of November, December, and
January, war., that thefe who had been awakened,
but had attained to no defircd outgate, continued to
make progrefs, and to profit by the ufe of the outward
and ordinary means of grace, efpecially the younger
fort, whofe progrefs was very fenfible. They who
appeared to have received the Lord Jefus Chrift,
continued to all outward appearance to walk in him,
and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our

APPENDIX. 237

Lord Jefus Chriit, as they continue through grace to
do unto this day March 26, 1743- There are not
above two or three cf them known to me, whom I
have had re <fon to rebuke for any thing amifs in their
walk. JVlary of them came frequently to me thefe
months, and fmce, with fears and doubts about their
fpiritual ilate : fome of their doubts and fears arofe
from their f- cling vanity of mind, wandering of their
hearts in the time of holy duties, evil thoughts, hard-
nefs of heart, and other inward corruptions; fo that
they complained that they were worfe and wickeder
than ever they found themfelves to be before, not
confidering that formerly they were dead, but now
they had life and feeling; that formerly they were
darknefs, and now they were light in the Lord.
Others complained, of their want of love to Chrift,
and of fpiritual deadnefs, becaufe lively motions of
their affections were abated. Some of thefe wanted
to know by what marks and figns they might know
that they loved our Lord Jefus Chriit in fmcerity.
Others were afraid^ and jealous that their faith might
not be of the right fort, and left they fnould deceive
themfelves. Many of them complained much of
atheiftical thoughts, blafphemous injections, as it
were inward difuafions from prayer, and other holy
duties, and other forts of the fiery darts of the wicked
one. The focieties for prayer continued and in-
Chafed, fo that at prefent they are above twenty-two,
which meet once in the fortnight, once in the week,
and fome of them cftner. The outward reformation
of the congregation continues. And during thefe
months mentioned, there was great diligence in at
tendance upon gospel-ordinances, and great appear
ance of ferioufnefs and concern in hearing, without
any confiderable out-cry. There were few or none
newly awakened known to me thefe months, though
I find fince that there were, but were able to conceal
themfelves for a time; only there were fome few in

238 APPENDIX.

and about the town of Kilfyth, then and fmce, to
the number of twenty-three, who aflbciated them-
felves for prayer, and of themfelves; I hope it ihall
iflue well with fome of them, through the tender
mercy of the Mod High, though there are grounds
of fear as to others of them.

Since the beginning of February the operations of
the Holy Spirit have been again more fenfible, both
as to the awakening of fecure finners, and reviving
thefe formerly converted. — All or mod of the focie-
ties of the congregration fet a part Tuefday the eight
of February, for thankfgiving to the God and Father
of our Lord Jefus Chrift, for this furprifing and un-
looked for appearance of his grace, in fo many con
gregations of this backflidden church and land, and
for prayer that it may be general, through the length
and breadth of the land. — There was alfo tranfmitted
to us, a memorial from the focieties for prayer, at
Edinburgh, inviting the praying focieties in this con
gregation, and the congregations about, to join with
them upon the i8th day of February, in thankf
giving and prayer to God, upon the forefaid account.
This congregation kept the faid day congregation-
ally. The Rev. Mr. Robert Spears minifter of the
gofpel at Linlithgow, aflifting me in the public work,
when there was a very great concern in the congre
gation. — And Mr. Spears and I, had much to do in
the evening, in converfing with thefe under diftrefs,
who had as yet got no outgatej as alfo with feve-
rals of thefe, who had got an efcape through grace-,
but were under great diftrefs at the time, through
various temptations. The focieties for prayer met
at night; the focieties in the congregations about,
kept this day, or fome part of it. The minifter of
Kirkintilloch, preached upon the Thurfday, being
the j yth, and I think the focieties of that parilh met
upon the faid day.

I remark this more particularly, to manifeft and

APPENDIX. 239

fet forth, the glory and praife of our God, who is
the hearer of prayer, and who hath been gracious to
us at the voice of our cry, for his Son, and for his
holy names' fake. The month of February, having
been the moil remarkable month, for the prefence
of the Lord among us, not only in this congrega
tion, but fome others about, of any fince October
laft. — From Sabbath the thirteenth to Sabbath the
twenty of February, there were ten awakened either
altogether new, or, fuch upon whom their firll a-
wakening had long fince come to nothing, fince
which there have been about eight with me, mod
of them under fourteen. — All this befides thirteen
young boys, who had aflbciated themfelves for pray
er, without any defiring them, and who are fince
taken under fuch notice, as is needful for them. —
Lall month and this, hath alfo been a time of reviv
ing, {lengthening, and confirming to former chrifti-
ans, and of relieving fome of the late converts from
their diilrefles, — Of all this I have good documents,
fome of which (hall be given upon the article of re
viving in this Narrative, if the Lord permit.

There are at this time near feventy, if not above,
who are young ones, from eight to eighteen or there
by, who meet in focieties twice a week, moll of
them, and fpend the time in prayer, Tinging fome
part of a pfalm, reading the fcriptures, and repeating
their catechifm. They are at leail once a week under
the infpe&ion and direction of fome elder Chriilian,
who meets with them. I received a letter about two
weeks ago, directed to them, from an Engliili gen
tlewoman, who is author of the letter to the negroes
converted in America. It is ib good, and may be fo
encouraging, and uftful to all fuch young ones, who
fet themfelves to feek the Lord, that 1 give it a place
here.

240 APPENDIX.

Great Granf den Ftb. 24. 1742-3.

Rev. Sit')

" "XT7HILE I was reading the account which you
^ * gave me of thefe dear lambs, which are feek-
ing after JESUS, and particularly of thefe who told
you, That at times they were as ill as ever, on ac
count of their feeling of indwelling fin, -and fears
about their acceptance with God thereupon; I felt a
yearning of bowels towards them, and was inclined
to write a line to them. And if, Sir, you think it
proper, I requeft the favour of you, to get the un-
derwitten read to them by one of thefe experienced
chriftians which affemble with them when they meet
in fociety ; perhaps a word from a ftranger may be
taken notice of by them. However I leave it with
the Lord, and fubmit to your prudence, to act as he
fhall direcl: you. — Wifhing great profperity in the
Lord and his work. I remain,

Reverend Sir,

Your mojl affeEllonate humble Servant,
in our dearejl Jefus> &c."

P. S. I have fent, Sir, one of my Letters to the
Negroes, to thefe lambs, be pleafed to get it
read to them.

APPENDIX. 241

To THE DfcARYOUNG LAMBS IN KlLSYTH,

THAT ARE SEEKING AFTER CHRIST, A
FRIEND OF THEIRS SENDETH GREETING:
WISHING ALL SALVATION THROUGH THE
SAVIOUR'S NAME.

My dear little Children,

(t TT7ITFI joy I received an account from the dear
* * fervant of CHRIST, your honoured minuter
Mr. Robe, That the Lord has inclined your hearts
to feek after him, that the great Shepherd is gather
ing you with his arm, that fome of you are carried
in his bofom; and that fome of you who are got in
to Chrifl, are diftrefled at times, with the feeling of
indwelling fin, and fears about your intereft in God,
and acceptance with him on that account.

" And unto you my dear children, who are feek-
ing after JESUS, and have not as yet fenfibly found
him whom your fouls love; to you let me fay, fol
low on to know the LORD, and you (hall know him.
— You were born finriers, guilty and filthy you were
in your firft father Adam; you finned in, and fell
with him in his firft tranfgrellion. And as his de
generate offspring, you were conceived in fin, and
(hapen in iniquity, and came into the world with a
fmful nature, all over defiled from head to foot, with
hearts full of enmity againfh God, and bent to back-
Hide from him: and you have gone aftray, even from
the womb: and the righteous law of God curfeth
every tranfgreflbr, and the wages of fin is death: and
while fouls abide in their natural (late they are in
ppynrent danger of God's eternal vengeance. — But,
Oh! 1'ehold, God fo loved the world, that he gave
R

242 A P P E N D I X.

his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in
him, mould not perifh but have everlafting life. Je-
fus has borne the wrath and curfe of God, for the
law condemned fmners, thatdeferved to die the death*
Chrift has died in the finner's room: the blood of
the Son of God, has been (hed in (lead of the fin-
ner's; Jefus gave his life a ranfom for fmners, to
fat5sfy offended juftice, and procure our redemption
from all mifery, unto all glory, to fave us from fin
and hell, and to bring us unto God. And God is
fo well pleafed with what his dear Son has done and
fuffered for finn-ers, that he can be gracious to th^m,
and has promifed to exalt his grace, magnify his
mercy in forgiving their fins, and faving their fouls
unto life eternal, even to the chief of finriers, to every
and all of them, will God be thus gracious, that come
unto him by Jefus Chrift. — Are you convinced then,
my dear children, that you are miferable finners, and
muft perifh for ever, if God of his infinite mercy
doth not fave your fouls? Then confider, Chrift is
the way to the Father. God invites and commands
you to believe on his dear Son, to come unto Chrift
for life, and by him to God the Father, for all that
grace and falvation which your perifhing fouls want,
Chrift is able to fave you to the uttermoft; and lo
he is willing to fave every poor finner that comes to
him ; the Saviour invites heavy laden finners, even
all that are weary and burdened with fin, to come
unto him, and has promifed to give them reft. And
no one foal that cometh unto him, will he in any
v.ayi call out. — Come then, my dear children, caft
yourfelves as periihing finners, at the Saviour's feet :
.uid you (hall find mercy. The arms of Chrift (land
wide open to receive returning finners — And if you
would find mercy with him, bring nothing with you
but your mifery — Chrift faves all freely, without
money and without price, without any worth or
worthinels: The Saviour don't look for thefe, in

APPENDIX. 243

the fouls that he faves; but only calls them to come
to him in all their mifery, to receive that full and
complete falvation which he prepared for them, and
will beftow upon them freely. And no foul that
comes, let him be ever fo poor and miferable,
wretched and blind and naked, (hall be fent empty
away. And wait my dear children, wait patiently
for the Lord, for he hath faid, They Jljall not be
a/hamed that •wait for nu. And with Chrift, in
Chrift, you fnnll find life, eternal life, and (hall ob
tain favour of the Lord.

*' And unto you, my dear children, that have found
Jefus, and the comforts of his love in his precious
promifes to your fouls; unto you I fay, That none
of all your enemies, fin, Satan, nor wicked men,
lhall ever pluck you out of your Saviour's hands.
He will give you eternal life, and you {hall never
perim. The Lord that hath begun to fave you, will
fave you to the uttermoft. He that hath forgiven
your fins, will fubdue your iniquities. The God of
peace ivill bruife Satan under your feet Jfjortly. That
little fpark of grace which he hath enkindled in your
fouls, (hall not be quenched by thefe waters of fin,
that fea of corruption which ftill abides in your de
praved nature: though fin and grace war in your
dear fouls, yet grace (hall get the victory over fin.
The Lord Jefus, the Captain of your falvation, will
vanquiih all your corruptions, trample thefe your
enemies, under his feet, and caufe you to fet your
feet upon the necks of them; yet a little while, and
thefe enemies, which purfue and affright your fouls
to day, you fhall fee them no more for ever: they
(hall fink as lead into the mighty waters of the
boundlefs, all-overflowing grace of God, and th^
infinite merit of the Saviour's blood, and you as the
redeemed of the Lord, fhall fing the Lamb's new
fong, and fay, Unto him that loved us, and wa/hed us
Jrcm our fins in his oiun blon!> avA hath made in A'z/.vv
R ;

244 APPENDIX.

and priefts unto Gad and his Father; To him be glory
and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Oh, dear
fouls! you that have a painful feeling of the working
of fin within you, have the forgivenefs of fins through
the Lamb's blood: your fins are forgiven you for his
name's fake, and God has wrought the new life of
grace in your fouls, or elfe the workings of fin would
not grieve you: if you have a painful feeling of the
body of death, it is becaufe you are alive from the
dead: and becaufe Chrift lives, you (hall live alfo:
becaufe, he lives for you and in you-, and his life,
will f wallow up all your death, That death of fin
which now works in you, fhall inortly be i wallowed
up of perfect holineis, joy and life for evermore.
And mean time your Saviour will fuccour you under
all your forrows, compafiionate your fouls, under all
your griefs from the being and working of indwelling
fin, and give feafonable grace to iirengthen you
againft corruption and temptation: the grace of
Chrift is fufficient for you, and his flrength {hail be
made perfe£fc in your weaknefs. — -And lo, your in-
tereft in Chrift, and in God through him, doth not
in the leaft depend upon your frames, nor (hake and
totter, as they alter. Your Beloved is yours, and you
his: he hath betrothed you unto himfeif for ever,
and hateth putting away: he will never cad you oft"
for your vilenefs, for ail that you have done. And
God has engaged in his new covenant, to be a God,
a Father to you, nnd you (hall be his people, his tons
;i ml his daughters: arid hath fworn that he will no
more be wroth with you, that his kindnefs towards
you fhall never depart, but (land firmer than the
mountains and hills, out-live time and run on its
own everlafting round to an endlefs eternity. — And
as for your acceptance with God, it is quite out of
yourfelves; it (lanes alone in the perfcn, blood, and
righteoufnefs of Chrift, who is yefterday, to day, and
for ever the fame: God the Father, has made you

APPENDIX. 245

accepted, everlaflingly accepted in Chrift, the beloved
of his foul. And in him you have an everlafting
{landing in divine favour, that is quite independent
upon your own inherent goodnefs: God accepts you,
my dear children, for Chriii's fake, on the account
of what lie is, and hath done, and not on the account
of what you are, or can perform; falvation is all of
grace, a mere free gift to the chief of flutters. The
wages of fin is death: but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Therefore my
little children, abide in Chrift by faith. Run daily,
as perilling fmners, unto him the great Saviour; and
there you (hall be for ever fafe from the ftorms of
God's wrath, and eternally folaced with his prefent
.favour, into the arms of Chrift. I commit you, as
his tender lambs, to be carried fafe in his bofom,
through a world of trials into a world of glory: and
am yours molt tenderly in Jefus, &c."

In the parim of Cumbernauld the concern among
that people hath continued public and difcernible all
this winter; there being perfons newly awakened
from time to time. — There is great oppofition to the
Lord's work in that congregation, by the Seceders,
and perfecution, as far as mocking and the tongue
can go, as there is alfo in the Eaft-end of this parifh.
— It is remarkable that the firft day the Seceders
preached at Cumbernauld, which was in February
laft, there was a greater ftir and more fenfible outcry
in the congregation at the kirk, than had been for
fome configurable while before. — Alfo, next Lord's
day, when the Seceders had fermon, there was a lad,
who, when he was entering into the place of their
meeting, caft his eye towa-rds the kirk, when this
thought came in his mind, What reafon can I give
for forfaking the minifter, and following thefe folk?
which troubled him fo, that he went Straight from
R 3

246 APPENDIX.

the place of their meeting, to the kirk, where he wat
ewakened and brought to a deep concern about his
finful and loft ftate. — It is alfo talked that he was
carried to the feceding preacher, who advifed him to
mind and apply himfelf to his work. — A judicious
chriftian in the bounds, having faid, that was the
way Cain took, who went to build cities, fuffers their
fpite, for this juft thought.

Thefe in the other parifties to the weft of this,
who appeared to have got a defirable iflue of their
awakening, continue to make progrefs and to walk
as becometh, and have the fame temptations, doubts,
fears and difficulties that converts in former times
had.

The Rev. minifter of the gofpel at St. Ninians,

by his to me of the ipth current, writes * That im-

preflions upon our people are far from wearing off,

their behaviour is fuch as that their enemies thcm-

felves cannot quarrel; and hitherto they behave

very well, it would give you great pleafure to hear

them pray and converfe. Our audience is moft

* attentive to the preaching of the word.'

The Rev. minifter of the gofpel at Gargunnock,
by his to me of the 1 7th current March, writes,
That the concern there in a great meafure conti
nues, their fellowfhip meetings increafe: that even
the childrens meetings for prayer continue, their
outward concern continues even in the public; a
diligent attending upon ^ordinances, love to our
God and Redeemer remains, and to all the chil
dren of our Lord's family, and efpecially crying to
Chrift and rejoicing in him, with a fober and
blamelefs converfation.' — He writes alfo, ' That
< there are ftill fome under fpiritual concern in the
? parifu of Kippcn.'

APPENDIX. 247

In the month of January when I heard laft from
Muthil, the Rev. Mr. Halley writes, « That the work
' of God was ftill going on in his congregation, and
' that there were then feverals newly awakened,' con
cerning whom he writes c That they appeared

' to have been touched to the quick, the arrows of

* the almighty fliot to their very hearts, trembling

* like the Jailor, crying out againd fin, breathing

* and thirfting after a Saviour. My bowels were
' moved for them, and I hope the bowels of a com-

* pallionate Redeemer were yearning over them,
' when they were with Ephraim bemoaning them-
' felves. — I mud tell you as a token for good, a pray-
' ing difpofition among this people not only conti-
' riues, but is upon the growing hand. Befides what
' of that is with particular perfons and families, our
4 praying focieties are encreafing. — We have now
' thirteen of them, and a new one going to be fet
c up. — I cannot exprefs how much I am charmed
' with the young ones. We have now three praying

* focieties of them. One of them at about two miles

* diftance from this, payed me a moft agreeable vifit
' upon the firft Monday of the year, a day that young

* people efpecially ufed to be otherways employed —
4 we had, I think, upwards of forty of them, they con-

* tiuued in prayer and other exercifes till about ten
' at night. But O! to hear the young lambs crying
( after the great Shepherd, to hear them pouring out

* their fouls with fuch fervour, with fuch beautiful

* expreffions, with fuch copioufnefs and fullnefs, did

* not only ftrike me with admiration, but melted me

* down in tears. I wifhed in my heart, that all con-
f tradi&ers, gainfayers, arid blafphtmers of this work
6 of God, had been where I was that night.' — He
alfo writes, 'That the Rev. Mr. Porteous minifter of

* the gofpel at Monivaird, told him there was fome
6 ftirring in his parifh.'

Since the preceding account was put into the prirr
R 4

248 APPENDIX.

ter's hand-, I have received the following later ac
counts. — The Rev. Mr. Halley in a letter to me of the
29th of March writes, * That the concern in that

* congregation continues, in hearing the word, tho'

* not with fuch a noife and outcrying as formerly.

* And though the public awakenings be not fo dif-

* cernible, as they were fometime ago; yet few Sab-

* baths pafs, but, faith he, we have fome pricked in
< their hearts, and with great anguifh .of fpirit cry-
' ing, what (hall we do? — A law-work is ftill fevere,
' and of long continuance with many; but the Lord

* is fupporiing, helping to wait, and keeping them

* thirfting alter relief in Chrilt.^ — Others, who, as I

* judged, had their wounds bound up, have them
4 fall a bleeding again; and when the Lord hides his

* face they are exceedingly troubled, and almoft are

* as much upon the rack as formerly. — They are but
« novices in religion, and know but little of the

* Lord's ordinary way with his people, which makes

* them think, that there is no forrow like to their

* forrow, no cafe like theirs.— »But they will gather

* experiences, and the Lord will teach them, that he

* is dealing no otherwife with them, than he. ufes to
1 do with them that love and fear him/

There are feveral hopeful appearances in the Rev.
Mr. Porteous's parifli of Monivaird, fuch as an un-
ufual attention to the word, fetting up the worfhip of
God in many families where it was formerly neglect
ed, the fetting up, and increafe of praying focieties,
and a noticeable concern amongft many young ones,
of whom they have two fociety meetings

There have alfo been for fome time paft public and
discernible awakenings in the parifh of Crief, where
the Rev. Mr Drummond is minifler. Severals there
have fallen under fpiritual trouble and diftrefs. And
feveral praying focieties are fetting up there.

APPENDIX. 249

I have now this i8th of April, to add unto the
preceding account of the ftate of religion in this
country-fide, that public and difcernible awakenings
continue in this congregation, reaching even fome of
the elder fort, particularly yefterday, when there ap
peared a general concern upon the congregation.
Not unto us, not unto us, but unto the holy and blef-
fed name of our God, the fole author of it, be all the
glory. — At Cumbernauld the concern dill continues
public and difcernible and new awakenings from
time to time. — I am likewife informed, that in the
parifhes of Kirkintilioch and Campfie there are in-
ilances of new awakenings.

Befides the places already mentioned in this Nar
rative, where there have been or are yet difcernible
and remarkable awakenings; there are good infor
mations from feveral other corners, concerning va
rious proniifmg tokens for good, which afford pro
bable evidences not only of fome fuccefs of the gof-
pel, but of fuperior degrees of fuccefs, furpafling for
mer years; fuch as more careful attendance on fer-
mons, both on Sabbath-days and week-days, and on
catechifing: more ferioufnefs in hearing; more in
clinations to focieties for prayer, mofl remarkably,
though not merely, among the younger fort; which
feems by the divine blefling, to fet others a thinking:
more refort to minifters for private inflru<SUoii: re
ligion more the fubject of converfation: and comfor
table accounts given by private chriftians, not only to
their minifters, but one another, of the benefit which
they hope they reap by the ordinances in their re-
fpe<£live congregations: as alfo earned longing and
much fervent prayer, for a greater and more general
reviving.

Such comfortable accounts, are not only from fome
country congregations, but from fome of the princi
pal cities of this land. — At Dundee meetings for

250 APPENDIX.

prayer and a praying difpofition in them, with chrif-
tian knowledge, do dill increafe. Upon the lad
week of March they had two new ones fet up, fo that
they have now above twenty of thefe meetings, and
in feverals of them between twenty and thirty per-
fons. — There are alfo come to my hand certain in
formations, of a promising concern beginning to ap
pear in feme congregations in the South-Weft cor
ner of Fife, befides what has been at Toryburn. — I
have alfo lately, letters from fome of the Lord's peo
ple from Angus in the North, and near the borders
to the South-Eaft, exprefling the mod earned defires,
and longing for fuch a reviving, in the corners where
they dwell.

JOURNALS of perfons relative to this Article, are
fome of them as follows.

Third Journal from Kilfyth, fent by a Letter from the
Minifler^ June $th9 \ 742.

E. F. About twenty-five years of age, blamelefs
in his former life, and profefling religion, began to
be convinced more than ordinary anent his fpiritual
date, from the day he heard the Rev. Mr. Willifon,
minifter of the gofpel at Dundee, preach here about
the 23d of April. This concern increafed the Lord's
day thereafter, upon his feeing a young girl awaken
ed and fainting in the congregation. He fays, That
he reafoned thus within himfelf, That when a girl
fo young was fo deeply affefted with a fenfe of her
fin and danger, his cafe was fad, who was fo little
affefted.

Upon the Lord's day, being the i6th of May,
when there were many brought into fpiritual diftrefSj
his anxiety about his foul greatly increafed.

APPENDIX. 251

Monday morning he went to a (heep-cote for
prayer. By the way he was much concerned, fear
ing that the Lord had pafled him by, and earneftly
defiring, that the Holy Spirit might come for his
conviction and awakening. As foon as he came
thither and bowed his knees to pray, he faid, c O
1 mighty God of Jacob, Why pafleft thou by me?
* fend thy Holy Spirit to convince and awaken me,
' and give me a difcovery of myfelf.' Upon which,
he fell into great diftrefs, feeing himfelf loft and un
done, and thought he got a fight of all fin, both ori
ginal and actual, and that fo particularly, that he
could confefs them by name unto the Lord. He
fays, That his particular fins came continually into
his mind one after another; and that he could not
leave the place without confefling them to the Lord:
which kept him from eight in the morning until ten.
He fays further, That he faw the dreadful evil of
unbelief, and was made to cry out againft it as a
damnable fin; and broke out in thankfulnefs to God
for awakening him, and thought it was fo great a
mercy, that he could not be thankful enough for it,
nor could he, as he fays, get the greatnefs of the
mercy out of his mind. He was brought to me the
faid day, under the greateft agonies of any I have
feen. Upon the i8th of May, his cafe appeared to
me very hopeful, and continued fo in his coming to
me from time to time.

May 3 1 ft, He told me, he was grieved for fin, be-
caufe offenfive to God: but thinks he cannot get
grief enough for his fins. I told him, if he had fuch
a fenfe of fin, and degree of humiliation, as made
him willing to part with all fin, that was the meafure
to be defired. He faid, That he was afraid left there
be yet fome fin that he is not willing to part with;
which is the caufe that the Lord doth not fend relief
to him. I told him it was too much of a legal fpirit,
to expect relief upon the account of any thing at-

25* APPENDIX.

tained by him; and that he mud look for it upon
(Thrift's account, and wait patiently the Lord's time,
who is fovereign in giving comfort as well as grace;
and that he muft fearch and try whether there be not
fome fin he is not willing to part with, and which, if
he did not, would feparate between God and him.
He faid, Worldlinefs was a dreadful fin, and fre
quently came into his mind in duty. I advifed him
to humble himfelf before God for it, and to cry to
him to fearch and try him, and to fee every wicked
way in him. He laid, lie defired to part with that,
and all other fin.

I alked him, What views he had of Chrift? He
faid, He faw him to be an all-fuiHcient Saviour, able
and willing to fave to the uttermojl; but that all the
fault xvas in his own unwillingnefs: and that he
eilkyed frequently to clofe with Jefiis Chrift. I afked
him, What he took clofmg with Chrift to be? He
anfwered, That he took clofing with Chrift to be a
receiving him as a Prophet to teach him the way of
ialvation, as a Prieft to atone for him, and to be his
righteoufuefs in the fight of God ; and as a King to
rule over him, and to fubdue fin and corruption in
him: and that without Chrift's righteoufnefs imputed
to him he can never be accepted in the fight of God.
I told him, He muft alfo rely upon Jefus Chrift for
falvation, with fome confidence and perfuafion of
dfaith, to obtain it according to the promife. He faid,
That it was there where it ftuck with him. I advifed
him to go and mourn for this unbelief, and to pray
for the fpirit of faith, and to eflay this way of be-
Jieving.

June 4th, He came to tell me, That he had got
fenfible relief; he faid, That upon Wednesday, June
2d, in hearing the ferman updn the Spirit's con
vincing the world of righteoufnefs, from John xvi.
10. he had confiderable fatisfaclion: he was made to
fee the infufficiency of his owrt righteoufnefs, and

APPENDIX. 253

the fuiliciency of Child's, and that he could not be
juflificd in the fight of God without it, and was wil
ling to difchim his own and accept of Chrid's. He
told me further, That coming to hear ferrnon upon
the faid Wednefday, his matter hy the road told him
feveral marks of grace, which he thought he could
find in him ft If. Nmattfy, Hatred at all fin, becaufe
contrary to God; love to the people of God, as the
people of God, And an earned defire to have all
others brought to Chrift, efpecially his relations.
And that he went home meditating upon the fer-
mon.

Next day, viz, June 3d, One I know to be a good
chriftian of a long time, and of the happieft memory
I have known, was with him the moil part of the
forenoon, and repeated to him, at his defire, all the
heads of the fore-laid fermon feveral times over, and
prayed with him. In the afternoon he went to a
Uarn and eiTayed to clofe with Chrift, which he was
enabled to do with diftin&nefs, in which he got fuch
clearneis as not to doubt of his intereft, and broke
cut into the high praifes of God. He was refreshed
with the following fcripture. Behold, I ftand at the
door, and knock % if any man hear my "voice, and $p?n the
dooT) I fvili come in to kiiny and *sviil fttp tvith himy and
he •with me. He fought and found it out, and in
reading over the iii. chapter of the Revelation where
it is, he was filled with wonder at the greafnefs cf
God's grace in bellowing fuch privileges upon, and
exalting man after this fort; and that his heart was
filled with fuch love to Chrift, and joy; that he was
like to leap off the feat where he was fitting: he fays,
That he was much affected in rcadin^ the 1 2th verfe

£>

of the faid chapter; and that he could fcarce believe,
that it was fo with him. Wherein he was like unto
the ditciples, Luke xxiv. 41. Who believed nrt for joy%
but wondrcd when they had a rifen Jefus among
them. He \TSS directed to the Ixsi. Pfabn, iu the

254 APPENDIX.

words whereof he praifed God, and faid, He couid
not end until he fung the laft line of the 6th verfe, /
ever will praife thee. He faid, he was afraid leaft he
fhould fall back again into worldlinefs, and be en-
fnared by bad company. I told him he muft fay and
do as David, Pfalm cxix. 115. Depart from me ye
evil-doers : for 1 •will keep the commandments of my God.

JAMESROBE.

Sixth Journal from KiJfyth: Extracted from my Bcokt
June 30/7^, 1742.

L.M. Aged about twenty-eight years, and formerly
of a blamelefs life> was awakened May i yth, by fee
ing and converfmg with his brother under fpiritual
diftrefs. The night of the i yth he was fo deeply
diftreffed that he could fleep very little, but was like
one diflra&ed with terrors. Next morning his di
ftrefs was increafed by reading that paffage of Allan's
Alarm, wherein he difcourfeth of God's being an ene
my to unconverted finners; which paiTage he met
with at the firfl opening of the book.

May i 8th, He was brought to me under great ago
nies affecting his body though a very ftrong man. I
obferved, his reafon clear and undifturbed, and able
to give a diftincl: account of himfelf. He was exer-
cifed with a view of particular fins, and in a lively
manner felt himfelf to be a guilty condemned fin-
ner; had a deep impreffion of original fin and cor
ruption as rendering him liable to eternal wrath, tho'
he had not been guilty of any actual fin; had a deep
fenfe of the finfulnefs of fin as done againil God, and
of the fin of unbelief as hardening his heart againft
the voice of Chrift in reading and hearing his word;
he was ftruck with the dreadful fears of falling into
the ftate of torment; and faw the great goodnefs and
long differing of God, in not cutting him off in the

APPENDIX. 255

of fome fin or other. He was fupported fome-
\vhat with the views of the remedy Chrift Jefus, and
that he came into the world to fave finners, which he
defired to lay hold on for the ground of his hope.
After this day he converfed with me and fome other
minifters fevcral times.

May 2oth, He fcemed to have attained to fome
compofure by eflaying toclofe with Jefus Chrift.

May 28th, He declared that when he was engaged
in prayer, he felt his foul going out in the accep
tance of a whole Chrift as his only Saviour, in all his
offices for his falvation: his prophet to teach him by
his word and Spirit; his prieft to reconcile him to
God by his facrifice: and his king to fubdue his fin,
fancYify and rule him: difclaiming all confidence in
his duties and defiringto rely on him alone for falva
tion: withal giving away himfelf to the Lord to be
faved upon his own terms, to live unto him, and ferve
him in newnefs of life: refolving, in the ftrength of
Jefus Chrift, to live an holy life to his glory, and yet
not to reft on it as a ground of peace and acceptance.
He faid, he was greatly afraid left he fhould fall back
into fin and be a fcandal on religion, after what God
had done for him: and that he was exercifed with
the fears of hypocrify and prefumption in receiving
Chrift, againft which it relieved him to look unto
Chrift anew, who came to fave the chief of finners,
and is offered to him in common with others.

June 26th, He told me, that after fome new awak
enings he hath attained to greater degrees of fenfible
relief. Particularly the reading of the Rev. Mr.
Whitefield's text, Mark xvi. 16. in the congregation,
ftruck him to the heart, and he cried, Lord I believe,
help my unbelief: after which, during a goed part of
the fermon, he endeavoured to clofe with Chrift in
all his offices, and was filled with wonder at the grace
of God, who had done fuch wonderful things for
him a poor miferable blind and naked finne.v. He got

256 APPENDIX.

over all his former doubts and fears; had great ftif-
rings of love to Chrift: and could not tell what way
to praife God, wifhing that all the faints would praife
him, for he could not do it enough, Heb. ix. 28.
Gkrijl was once offered to bear the fins of many •, and un
to them that look fur him 'will he appear the jecond time
without fin unto falvation, was brought home to him
in great light, and had fome views of the glory and
excellency of Chrift and of his love to him. That
night his lively frame went off for three days: but yet
he was without doubts and fears.

Friday night, as he fays, he attained unto a lively
frame, and obferved that the Holy Spirit had fct ail
his affedt-ions a flirring, and warmed them after
Chrift, as he terms it.

Saturday morning, he found himfelf loaded with
fpiritual joy, and when he went to prayer many
promifes were brought home to him, he faw them
to be, * Yea and amen in Chrift Jefus/ and that they
not only belonged to him, but had, what he calls, a
heart-feeling of them. He fays, he had a great fenfe
of Chrift's love to him, and was filled with joy. This
frame continued with him through the day. In the
evening reading the vii. and viii. chapters to the Ro
mans, he thought he had a heart-feeling of every
thing in them, and as he fays, he could not apply
one promife by another, for he thought that all be
longed to him. And that he hath the grounded faith
and perfuafion of the viii. of the Romans from the
^5 verfe, to the end. He faid further, that his cafe
and exercife were an allufion as he called it, to the
men at fea mentioned in the cvii. Pfalm, from the
23d verfe unto the 28th verfe, which he read to me.

23 Who go to fea in flips y and in

great waters trading bcy

24 Within the deep thefe men God's ii'orh

and his great •atendefs

A P P E N D I X. 257

25 For he commiwds, and forth in hajie

the Jlormy tempefl flies >
Which makes the fea ivith raiding waves
aloft to f'well and rife.

26 They mount to keavn, then to the depths

they do go doiun «£.-?///,
Thtir foul doth faint and melt away

•with trouble and with pain.
2 7 They reel and /larger like one dninky

at their tuits tnd they be :
28 Then they to God in trouble cryy

ivho them from J^r ails doth free.

The above perfon as he was blamelefs in his life
before, is now fpiritual and edifying in his ordinary
converfe, and examplary in his converfation; and
their lives have been unexceptionable, edifying, and
chrillianly ufeful, to this 2 ill of April.

JAMES ROBE.

Seventh Journal from Kilfyth : Extracled from my
Book, July -]th, 1742.

The little time I can fparethis week, delermineth
me to publifh the following Journal, becaufe it is
fhort, and yet edifying.

N. O. Came to me under much trouble of mind,
June 2d. He told me he found himfelf firft afre<fted
upon the 1910 cf May, while he was hearing the
word of God preached in this congregation, and that
his fpiritual dillrefs has continued to increafe upon
him, and that many particular fins he hath done (lure
him in the face and make him uneafy, and that he
can name them to God in confeifion when he prays.

June 3d. He told me that his figut of particular

APPENDIX.

fins is increasing, that he is convinced he hath been in
a ftate of unbelief all his life, and that it is a dreadful
fin, and further that he fees the corruption of his
nature to be fuch, as unlefs it be taken away from
him he cannot be healed nor faved. He faid that he
was born an heir of hell and was under the wrath of
God, znd condemning fentence of his law alfo, be
caufe of his actual tranfgreffions. I enquired at him
the reafon why he was forry for his fins? he anfwer-
ed*, becaufe the juftice of God threatened him in the
word with wrath for fin, and that he could not be
faved unlefs he was forry for his fins. I inftructed
him that he muftbe forry for his fins becaufe he had
offended a juft, holy, merciful and gracious God by
them, and that this muft be the chief and principle
reafon of his forrow for fin, clfe it would not be godly
forrow, working repentance unto falvation, never to
be repented of, and that the other, which was only
for fin becaufe of wrath, though reafonable and al
lowed, yet it was but legal and felfim where there
was no more.

June 7th, He was with me, and declared that he
was forty for his fins, becaufe he had offended God
by them, and that he had never done any duty accep
tably, though there is no dependence upon duties for
acceptance with God when done. I afked him, what
«fe he endeavoured to make of hearing yefterday the
dreadful mifery unbelievers are under, and liable to,
becaufe of unbelief, preached ? he anfwered, he en
deavoured to do as the Prodigal did, to return to his
Father's houfe, to lay afide his unbelief, and to be
lieve upon the Lord Jefus Chrift; I iriftrucled him
then, as I had done formerly, in the nature of faith,
and prelled it upon him.

June 1 7th, He faid, that fince he hath been with
me, he had been more diftrefled than ever; for Sa
turday's night lad he read a fermon of Mr. Andrew
Gray's upon praying without ceajing^ and finding

APPENDIX. 259

himfelf come fo far (hort of what he faw in that
fermon, he fell a found, and lay a long time in-
fenfible, and that of all his other fins his unbelief
moil affected him.

June 28th, He faid, That he hath now great joy,
becaufe he can mourn much for unbelief, and endea
voured to lay it afide. He faid, That at Calder he
was enabled diftinctly to accept of Jefus Chrift, which
was followed with fuch joy, that he thought if he
had the tongues of all the angels in heaven and men
upon the earth, he would not get enough of praife
to God; and that for the moil part of that night, he
was employed in prayer and praife. He was caft
down upon the Thurfday, becaufe of felt unbelief, but
upon the Wednefday he was brought a^ain to a com
forted frame by the bleffing of the Lord upon fome
things he heard fpoken, from the hundred thirtieth
and eight Pfalm, before the fmging of it in the con
gregation. He was with me this day, and continues
to believe upon the Lord Jefus Chrift, with peace and

j°y-

JAMES ROBE.

S 2

CONCLUSION

O F

KILSYTH NARRATIVE,

BEGUN 1742.
ARTICLE VI.

Concerning the variety, and number of the perfonsy nvho
have been under the influence of this blejjed ivork, in
thiSy and fome neighbouring pariftjes.

TH E work of God's Spirit, which is the fub-
je£l of this Narrative ; as to its extent, hath
not been confined to one fort of perfonsv but hath
been extended to fome of every denomination and
kind.

Thefe who have been the fubje&s of the awaken
ing, and, I am perfuaded, alfo of the regenerating
influences of the Holy Spirit, have been of all ages.

Many folid divines are of opinion, that there are
but few of thefe, who live under the gofpel from
their infancy, who are converted after they are thirty
years of age. And indeed, for fome number of
years paft, it hath been rarely heard of, before this
prifent time, that any number were converted after
middle age. This fhould excite all perfons under
that age, fpeedily and earneftly to feek after grace,
and to come to Chrift; left either they be cut off by
death in their youth, and fo their life be eternally
among the unclean; or enter into that period of life,
wherein the converfion of fmners is rarer, than in
that wherein they are. But, at this time we write

CONCLUSION p F, e$V. 201

of, there were many perfons pad middle-age, even
as far as hoary-hairs, that were awakened; and of
thefe a goodly number converted. The greateft part
of them are between thirty and forty years; a few
between forty and fifty; much like the fame number
between fifty and fixty; not above two or three above
fixty; only one near, or above eighty. I fpeak of
thei'e known to me in this pariih, or near neighbour
hood. I can fay no great things of thefe old per-
fons beyond awakening, and a profefled ferious con
cern to learn the way of falvation by Jefus Chrift :
fo great was their ignorance, the weaknefs of their
faculties, and the confufion, either of their ideas,
or want of words to exprefs them. As this is an
exprefs warning to every young reader, (I intreat
thee to (lop a little, and think upon it, if thcu be
fuch an one) not to delay converfion, and turning to
God by Jefus Chrift, until the fhadows after mid
day lengthen upon them ; fo the inftances given,
joined with the calls, and promifes of the gofpel,
ferve greatly to give hope and encouragement, to
the oldeil chriftlefs finner to return to God by faith
in Jefus Chrift. You who read this, being old, and
yet unconverted, have indeed great reafon to be a-
fhamed, that fo many young ones have got the ftart
of you ; but you have no reafon to forbear a diligent
ufe of means to be converted, from a defpair of at
taining it, when you are old, or of finding mercy,
in cafe you (hall be converted. The inftances, com
paratively fewer of people converted after middle-
age, than of thefe before it, fhouM excite to great
er diligence ; but, by no means, mould take away
hope to fucceed, feeing there are inftances. Say not,
old finner, asNicodemus, Shall a man return into his
mother s ivcmb, being old? Regeneration is a fpiritua!
work, and you are capable of it, though you are
old. God promifeth to pour out his Spirit upon old
ones, Ads ii. 17. He canraife up to himfelf a tern-
S 3

262 CONCLUSION OF

pie, from a ruinous heap of ftones, that is ready to
drop in pieces. Let not therefore the greater dif
ficulties of converfion in your age, weaken your
hands; let them rather quicken you to ftrive with
greater earneftnefs, to attain that which others, with
all your difadvantages, have notwithftanding at
tained.

There were a very confiderable number of young
men and women*, from twenty to thirty years of
age, awakened, and, hopefully converted; and alfo
I truft, they are by grace this day ftrong, have the
'ward of God abiding in them> and by faith overcome the
wicked one. I am perfuaded, that if the awakened
of this period, are compared with the awakened,
either under or above it, it may be found, that few
er of them in proportion have mifcarried and failed
of the grace of God, than of thefe others.

There have been not a few under twenty years of
age awakened, and feverals of them favingly wrought
upon. Out of the mouths of babes and little children ,
God hath ordained to himfelf praife, to Jlill the enemy >
find the avenger. One was awakened going fix; fhe
was in great diftrefs, and cried out much when ftie
was firft awakened: when {he was brought to me
after fermon, I was greatly furprifed with fuch an
inftance: 1 enquired at her, wherefore fhe cried,
and what ailed her? (he anfwered, fin. I afked her,
How (he came to feel that fin ailed her? fhe an
fwered, * From the preaching.' I afked, What fhe
had heard in the preaching, that fo much affected
her ? (he anfwered, * She heard me fay, that they
* who got not an intereft in Chrift, would go to hell.'
And (he faid, that ftie would fain have an intereft
in him. This was upon the 2jd of June 1742. Up
on the 27th of June, being the Lord's day, fhe was
greatly diftrefled, during the whole time of the fer-
inon. Among other things, I afked her at night,
What fhe would give for an intereft in Chrift ? fhe

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 263

•anfwered, « That fhe would give her life for Chrift.'
July 6. Her dittrefs continuing, fhe was again with
me: {he faid, « That it was fin ailed her; for it de-
' ferved God's wrath and curfe, both in this life, and
' in that which is to come.' She was brought unto
me from time to time, until winter, and I inftrucled
her, as the Lord enabled me: I enquired at her, If
me knew any fins in particular, (he had clone againft
God ? (he anfwered, * Lying and banning.' She fre
quently told me, in anfwer to fuch queftions, ' That
' fhe prayed molt of all to get an intereft in Chrift;

* and that flic wanted to get Chrift to fave her from
t her fins; and that me was willing to have him to be

* her Saviour/ Her parents went out of the parifh
at fome diftance ; and I have not heard of her for
fome years paft. There was another awakened, going
feven, forefaid fummer; (he lived near me, and
came often to me; fhe attained to a good meafure of
knowledge : fhe was a member of one of the meet
ings of the young ones; and, as I was informed, fhe
prayed far beyond what could have been expected
from her age. She is fince deceafed; fhe profefled
to die fenfible of her need of Chrift.

There were above feventy awakened, from nine to
feventeen or eighteen years of age. There were fome
of thefe, who, at length, loft the impreflions made
upon them ; and their convictions in time came to
nothing. There are above forty of them, who, af
ter long inftrudtion, and a profeflion of their accep
tance of the Lord Jefus Chrift as their Saviour ; and
of God in him, for their chief good and laft end,
have been admitted to the Lord's table frequently;
and by what I can know of them, walk as becometh
the gofpel. Some of thefe were awakened, going-
ten, eleven, and twelve years of age; they gave hope
ful evidences of a faving change, and continue fo to
do. I could give a particular account of the progrcfs
of the work of God upon their fouls, from the Jour-
S 4

ao'4 CONCLUSION OF

nal that I kept, as has been done in the preceding
part of this Narrative-, but forbear, left I iucreafe
the bulk of this book.

It is an obfervation of practical writers, that there
are no fort of Tinners, excepting one ; but Chritl, in
a way of faving grace, calls fome of them effectually
to hirnfelf ; fo it was in this place. There were fe
derals, who had made fome profeflion of religion,
and were blamelefs in their lives; who were at this
time greatly awakened, and throughly convinced of
their being chriftlefs unbelievers ; and a work cf con-
veriion was hopefully carried on upon them. There
were ulfo fevernls, who had been guilty ofgrofs fin,
iuch as, adulterers, curfers, and ("wearers, drunk
ards, didioneft perfons, who were greatly awakened;
and fome of thefe gave ground to hope their faving
converfion; and that it might be faid to them, what
the Apoftle faith to the Corinthians, And fuch 'were
fome of you, but ye are vudfliid, but $e are fan&tfied}
but ye are jiiftified in the name of the Lord Jefus, and
by the Spirit of cur God. There were fome of good
knowledge and understanding, who were awakened,
and convinced, that they ktieiu nothing yet, as they
ought to Incvu; and willingly became fools, that they
might be fpiritually and really 'wife; counting all things
but lofs for the excellency of the knowledge of Jefus
Chrifl our Lord. There were alfo fome-grofsly igno
rant perfons, who were awakened, were at great
pains to get knowledge, made proficiency therein ;
and there is good ground to hope well of fome of
them, even that God 'who made the light tojhine out
of darknefs, JJjined into their hearts , to give unto them
the light cf the knowledge of his glory in the face of Je-
fus Chrifl.

There were many men awakened, and, to appear
ance, favingly changed, as well as many women.
There were many of ftrong, couragious, and (lout
fpirits, as well as fome of timorous, and weak minds

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 265

and fpirits, who were fubdued to Chrift m this day
of his power. There were many of healthy bodies
and confliuitions, who were made fenfible of their
fpiritcnl ficknefs; and of their need of Jeius Chrift
the phyiician of fouls, and whonr he both wounded
and healed: and there were alfo a few of melancho
lic and hyfteric difpofitions, who were healed by
ChriiVs {tripes; and there is nothing of what is called
religious melancholy, remaining with them, as far
as is known to me. I know no inftance here of any
perfons, whofe bodily health or underftandings have
been hurt by the moil violent effects of their awak
ening: but, fince the ceafmg of their awakenings,
either in a right or in a wrong way, they have been
as healthy as before. Yea, there is an inftance of a
young woman, who had been for fome years under
a wafting and confunaptive diilemper, keeping her
bed for the moft part ; (he obliged her friends to car
ry her one evening to hear God's word, where flie
was awakened; fhe was fo low, as I thought (he could
live but a few days; yet, from that time me recover
ed; and in appearance, the Lord made both her foul
and body whole.

It would run too far to be more particular; nei
ther do 1 find it advifeable to enter upon other Ar
ticles propofed in the beginning of this Narrative: I
(hall therefore proceed to the conclufion of it : in the

LAST ARTICLE.

Concerning the perfeverance of thefe who appeared to be
hopefully changed y during this extraordinary feafon of
grace.

HPHERE were many in the years 1742 and 1743,

•*• while we had the defirable days of the Son of

man in this, and other congregations, who called

266 CONCLUSION OF

upon us, not to be too hafty in pronouncing the then
extraordinary work to be good, until we faw the
fruits of it in the after lives and converfations of
thefe, who were the fubjeclsof it; and who afTerted,
that we could afftrm nothing of the converfion of
fuch perfons, until it was manifefted by perfevering
in goodnefs, for fome time. I do not remember,
that I ever heard fuch perfons make a condefcenfion,
how many years fuch fubje£ts were to be continued
under trial, ere we could warrantably entertain and
declare fuch a charitative perfuafion, of a good work's
being begun, arid carrying on in them, as one chri-
Itian may have of another. They have never hitherto
told us, whether this time of probation was to ex
tend to two, three, four, or nine years ; or until
the death of the fubje&s of this good work. I have
formerly, in my Monthly Hiftory for the years 1743,
&c. teftified to the public, the continuance of many
of them in fuch a way, as Jheiued their faith by their
ivirks. I publiflied alfo in that hiftory the exprefs
declaration of others, teftifying the fame concerning
thefe within their knowledge: particularly, a long
accurate letter from the Rev. Mr. John Warden th«i
minifter of the gofpel at Campfie, but now at Perth,
dated December i6th, 1743- fee 2d number of my
monthly Hiftory for 1/43.

I am now to conclude my Narrative of this extra
ordinary work at Kilfyth, &c. with this Article con
cerning the perfeverance of thefe who appeared to
be converted, in this and other parifhes of the neigh
bourhood, in the year 1742 and 1743. It hath been
long delayed, and in the opinion of feverals, who
often called upon me to finifh it with fuch an Ar
ticle, too long. This delay was partly owing to de-
fign, and partly to other reafons, needlefs to infert
here.

This Article comes now to be publifhed more
feafonably, than it could have been any time before

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 267

this. The falfe and malicious reports fpread in fe-
veral places in Scotland at a diftance from this, Cam-
builang, &c. That this extraordinary 'work •w.as come
to nought, and that ail the fubjefls of it lucre turned
•worfe and 'wickeder than they 'were before, were fuifi-
ciently contradicted by what I published in the fore-
faid Monthly Hiftory.

We are greatly rejoiced, and excited to praife the
God of all grace, by accounts we have hao from
Holland of iuch an ^extraordinary work of the Holy
Spirit being begun at Niewkerk, Putten, &c. in the
Dutchy of Guelderland, about the latter end of
1749; and of its continuance fince, and fpreading
into Juliers, &c. We are not furprifed to find that
there is the fame oppofition to it that there was in
Scotland, and in all other places where this blefled
outpouring of the Holy Spirit was. The kingdom
of Satan and his methods in fupporting it, and of op-
pofing the advancement of the Mediator's kingdom
of grace, are much the fame, in afl parts of the
earth. The fpreading of lies, flanderous reports, and
ridiculous (lories of the fubjecls of this work, was
one of the methods the evil fpirit made ufe of to pre
judice thefe at a diftance againft it, and to hinder
it's progrefs; and in this he had too great fuccefs.
Yet this laded but for a time, and the good work was
rendered more illuftrious arid evident thereby: for
many, both minifters and others, came from diftant
places to enquire into the nature of this work, and,
by being eye-witneflcs to it, and converting with the
fubjecls of it, went away fully fatisfied of its good-
nefs, and of the falfenefs of the evil reports fpread
of it, blefled God for what they had feen: yea, fonie
of thefe, who came full of prejudice agaiivl ir, he-
came the fubjeds of it. They fell down on tb* • faces,
ivorfljipped God, und reported that God was fuck
places of a truth.

About the beginning of this work in S-: - '.d,

58 -CONCLUSION OF

nany falfe reports were fent from New-England in
arionimous pamphlets, letters, £c. from thole in the
oppofition there, reprefenting what had been of it in
thefe Provinces, as enthufiafm and delufion ; deny
ing any remarkable work of converfion to be carried
on; and magnifying imprudences, irregularities, and
exceptionable things, which in fome places were in
termixed with this work, and which the moll of the
promoters and friends of it condemned as much as
they, and oppofed to their power. But in a very
little time, the falfehood of thefe reports were made
manifeft here ; and occafioned more abundant, ex
plicit, and public attestations to the goodnefs of this
work in New-England, and the hopefulnefs of the
fubje£ls of it. It had alfo this good effect, that it
made minifters called to be immediately concerned
in this work here, fo watch diligently againft the ve
ry firft appearance of thefe exceptionable things,
which, by the divine bleffing, had its defired e&ct:
for, as may be obferved from the above impartial
Narrative, little, if any of thefe things mixed with
this work here. And it is to be hoped, that thefe
worthy minifters of Chrift, in the Netherlands, whom
the Lord of the vineyard may honour to be employ
ed in this glorious work, will ufe the fame caution.
We are informed that the fame method of oppofi
tion is made ufe of in Holland againfl this bleffed
work, and that there are fome who confidently re
port there, That this ivork in Scotland •was all enthu-
Jiafmy that it is come to nothing, and that the fubjecJs of it
are fallen aivay and become ivorfe than they were before.

This hath occafioned a Reverend miuifler in Hol
land to renew his repeated^ entreaties to me, to fi-
nifh my Narrative, by giving an account of what can
be faid of the perfeverance of" the hopeful fubjecls of
this work. Others in this country have joined him
in this defire. I have a letter from a gentleman of
piety and good judgment, at fome diftance from this,

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 269

who had feen a copy of the above minifter's letter.
He writes me as follows. " He entreats you to pu-

* bliQi fomething to ihcw that the bleiTed work at
4 Kilfyth, Canibuflang, &c. was not abortive; but

* the happy fruits thereof endure. Dear fir, If I

* could fay any thing farther to the fame purpofe,
c gladly would I do it. You fee in the above mini-

iler's letter, that even in that country this flander
is propagated. That it is faid all was fancy and
enthufiaftical fits, and the fubjc£ts of it fallen back
to fin. Dear fir, doth not all this call you to do
juflice to the work of God; and not let it, and the
ilncere followers of the Lamb be flandered and
reproached?' There hath been no time fince the
beginning of this Narrative, when the concluding of
it with this Article could have been fo feafonable .as
now, as has been already obferved. I am therefore
perfuacied that by the wife and over-ruling provi
dence of God, to whom all his works are known from
the beginning, it hath been referved to this time,
when it ferves to contradict thofe mod falfe and
flariderous reports, and to promote the interefts of
religion, and the kingdom of Jefus Chrift in a
church and country of all others mod dear to us.

I (hall therefore riot only give a fincere and im
partial account of what I know of the perfeverance
of the fubjecls of this work in this congregation and
neighbourhood; but alfo infert the declarations cf
feveral reverend and well known minifters of the
gofpel in this church concerning the perfeverance
of many in their parimes, or other wife known lo
them: fome of which 1 have had by me for fome
time pad, and others of them are newly received:
and if there had been time for it, many more might
have been obtained, and inferted here.

In the pari(h and congregation of Kilfyth, there
were many awakened, and under a work of convic
tion to public knowledge and obfervance, whofe con-

CONCLUSION or

victions and impreflions ceafed, without coming to
any good iflue, fome fooner, feme later. There have
been fome here under greater terrors and a {harper
awakening than many of thefe were, who, by grace,
appeared to attain a defirable and hopeful iffue of
their fpiritual diftrefs who came to nothing, they
refted fhort of Chrift, became fecure again, and re
turned to their former life. Some of thefe laft were
many weeks, if not months, under great terror and
diftrefs. Some of thefe who loft their impreflions
came to no faying iflue, by being engaged too much
in worldly affairs. The cares of this life choaked ike
ivordj and they became unfruitful. Some through ig
norance, and not being diligent to learn the way of
falvation through Jefus Chrift; fome through the in
fluence of evil company, and confulting with flefh
and blood; fome through the out-cry raifed by the
Seceders that all their convictions were but delufions
and from the devil; one way or another they refifted
the Holy Spirit, and provoked him to withdraw his
influences, and fo the work of the Spirit upon them
ceafed, and came to no faving iflue.

There are inftances of thefe under convictions,
who not only returned to their former carelefs and
finful lives; but are worfe than they were formerly,
as they were exprefsly warned, from the word of
God, would be the cafe, if their convictions iflued
not in their faving converfion. It hath happened
unto them, as our bleffed Lord declared to the Jews.
When the unclean fpirit is gone out of a man, he •walketh
through dry places ^feeking refl^ and findeth none. Then
he faith, I will return into my houfe from ivhence I came
cut; and ivhen he is comet he Jindtth it empty , fivept and
garnifotd. Then goeth he, and taketh with himfelffeven
ether more ivicked than himfelf, and they enter in and
dive! I there : and the lajl ft ate of that man is ivorje than
the firft. This hath befallen a few who were under
notour awakening and convictions; but a greater

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 27r

number, who were under degrees of awakening and
covidtion, appearing only in the general reformation
of the parifh for a time. Of which general reforma
tion there is a particular account given in the former
part of this Narrative. This hath long fince ceafed,
and the grofs fins of drunkennefs, uncleannefs, pro
faning the holy name of God, {Irife and debate
abound among thefe more than ever 1 knew in this
place, unlefs it was at the time of my firft coming
to it. It is true indeed that there are feverals both
of the notourly awakened, and of thefe whofe im-
preflions appeared in fome outward reformation, who
continue more reformed outwardly than they were
before this work, upon whom I can difcern no evi-
Heace of their having undergone a faving change.
They feem to reft upon their convictions and amend
ment of life, as their righteoufnefs in the fight of
God; and to reft in them, without feeking any thing
further.

This was feared, and looked for, from the begin
ning of this extraordinary work. We never either
thought, or faid that fuch a work of awakening and
conviction was faving converfion, though we looked
upon it then, and continue ftill to judge it, the work
of the Holy Spirit, anfwering many good ends to the
glory of God, and the real good of this part of his
church. Neither did I ever pronounce fuch perfons
converted becaufe of their out-cries, and other effects
of their inward fear, though they continued long in
fuch a fituation; or becaufe of any fteps or degrees
they attained of mere conviction. Many mifcarry-
ing under a work of conviction, is, and always hath
been, as ordinary in the church, as many bloflbmi
perifhing every year without coming to fruit, yea,
many more than whatever ripen. It is judged with
great probability that there are few who live any
long time under the preaching of the word, but who
are under fome convincing work of the Holy Spirit

272 CONCLUSION OF

fometime in their life; and yet the far greateft part
live and die unconverted. This is a deplorable cafe
of many more than what is generally imagined, and
where the new creature is perfectly formed in one
awakened perfon, there are many abortives and mif-
carriages.

Although there hath been fo many awakened, who
fooner or later loft ail their uneafy impreflions, with
out coming to reft in Chrift: yet, blefled be the God
and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, there were a
confiderable number who gave good reafon to me
and others to hope well of them, and charitably to
conclude that they had undergone a favjng change.
It is known to feverals of my brethren, that I was
not forward in expreffing my good thoughts of the
attainments of particular perfons; but rather upon
the referve, and flow in what concerned this. But
what could I do with thefe who after often repeated
inftru&ior., converfe with them, and inquiry into
the progrefs of this work upon them, gave fuch an
account of their convictions and their progrefs; of
their being ,enlightened in the faving knowledge of
Chrift; of their receiving him*by faith in all his of
fices; of their canfolation and other exercifes as
agreed with the holy fcriptures, correfponded with
the experiences of formerly converted perfons, and
was evidenced by the outward univerfal reformation
of their lives? Was I not to look upon all this as
good ground to conclude in charity that they were
become real chriftians? And might I not, when I
found it was needful, declare to fuch perfons, that
fuch things, if they were in them as they declared,
they were thefe things that accompany falvation;
and that though they were fometimes clarknefs, yet
they were now light in the Lord, and fhould be very
careful to walk as children of the light; warning
them in the ftrongeft terms, of the dreadfulnefs of
the fin and danger of backiliding and apoftacy, with

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 273

oilier fuitable exhortations arid directions? Thefe, a
very few excepted, continue to this day to have their
converfation fuch as becometh the gofpel, and to
manifeft their faith by good works, to the glory of
God. Three or four of thefe excepted have fallen
into grofs fin, from which I hope they have recover
ed by repentance, and bring forth fruits meet for it.

There are two things I exprefsly aflert, and am
able to make good, that of thofe who were judged
hopefully converted, and made a public profeilion of
religion, there have been fewer inftances of fcandal
and apoftacy than might be and was expected: yea,
further, that there hath been fewer inflancea of apo
ftacy of thefe, than of thofe who gave me hopes of
their converfion in former years in proportion to
their numbers.

It is moil certain, that the great earneftnefs ap
pearing in them by their extraordinary diligence in
external duties, outward exprcfiions of their affec
tions, and their employing what many thought too
much time in religious concernments, is ceafed; and
they are come to live and to mind the lawful affairs
and bufmefs of this life as others before them did.
The ceafing of this earneftnefs was one of the prin
cipal reafons why enemies concluded, and gave out,
that all the good thefe perfons pretended to, and
were thought to have attained was evaniihed and
gone: whereas, if it had continued, they would have
objected that it could be no work of God that'hin-
dred fuch perfons from being ufeful to themfelves
and others, in the ft.itions and relations wherein he
had placed them. This hath alfo proven difcourag-
ing to fome of thefe chriftians themftlves, and made
them call in queftion the goodnefs of their (late. But
fuch would do well to remember that, as Mr. Henry
expreffeth it, ' we cannot judge of ourfelves by the

* pangs of affection, thefe may be more vehement

* and fenfible at firft; and their being lefs fo after-

t

274 CONCLUSION OF

s wards ought not to difcourage us. The fire may

* not blaze fo high as it did, and yet may barn hot-

* ter and ftronger.'

It is for a lamentation, that many of them have
loft much of the livelinefs they had for fome years,
and are feized with that fpiritual deadnefs, which is
fo much the fad difeafe, at this day, of the people of
God every where in this church. And I am afraid
that the Lord hath the charge againft us he had againft
the church of Ephefus, Rev. ii. 4. Neverthelefsy I
have fome<what againjlthee^ becaufe thou haft left thy Jirft
love. Some of them are fenfible and complain of it,
and I hope are ufing proper means for help, though
I am petfuaded faintly. They alfo appear at times
to be under greater degrees of concern than others
in hearing the word of God. There are alfo fome
who continue not only living but lively chriftians.
And yet the Lord's meflage to the forefaid church of
Ephefus is undoubtedly to be applied to the mod of
his people here, both former and later converts, Rev.
ii. 5. Remember therefore from 'whence thou art fallen,
and repent^ and do the firft 'works; or elfe I 'will come
unto ihee quickly, and remove thy caiullejlick out of its
place, except thou repent.

It is no evidence that the hopeful fubje&s of the
extraordinary work here do not perfevere, becaufe
that feveral of the numerous focieties for prayer are
ceafed, more than it is that all the real chriftians in
this parHh were fallen away, becaufe all thefe focie
ties were ceafed for fome confiderable time, before
this work appeared here. Some of thefe focieties are
failed, becaufe the members of them, being fingle
and unmarried perfons, are removed to other places
at a diftance, either by marriage, or entring into fome
other families iis fervants. In fome cafes two fmaller
focieties are become one. And in fome inilances
perfons have forfaken thefe meetings, and particular
meetings have ceafed, without being able to affign

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 275

any fatisfyihg reafon for it; and no other can be gi
ven, befides degrees of backtliding, and their love
v/axing cold. This laft hath been the fad cafe of as
many of thefe, who were profefTors before this extra
ordinary work, as of thofe who have become fuch
fines. If there be no more to bring into the account,
it will neither infer apoitacy, nor that fuch perfons
were never converted. Elder chriftians, who either
never joined in any fociety for prayer, or who have
given up with them after joining, would think they
were hardly dealt with to be cenfured as apoftates,
or perfons who never had a faving work, mi-rely up
on this account: i'.rul is it not as hard and unjuft to
treat any of the hopeful iubje&s of the late good
work, after this fort? and yet both thefe denomina
tions have j-roat reafon to charge theinfelves witii
fhameful backfliding, and to be afraid, left, having
begun to depart from the living God, it proceed from
an evil heart of unbelief, and may iffue, at length,
in total and final apoilacy. If he that ftandeth fhould
take heed kit he fall, much more fhould he, who in
fome inftances and degrees, hath fallen already, and
is not what once he appeared to be.

I have this further to add, concerning the hopeful
fubjedts we fpeak of, that I never had fuch fatisfac-
tion and clearnefs in admitting any others to the Lord's
table, as I have had in admitting them-, and that there
are few or none gave me fuch comfort and fatisfac-
tion anent their fpirituai ftate and condition, as thefe
do, when they have been fick or dying, or in any
other ftate of trial or affliction. A few of them, af
ter that they had lived feveral months or years, to
outward appearance, worthy of the Lord, to all well-
pleafing, huve been taken from us by death- Thefe
who made the greateft noife about forbearing to pro
nounce this extraordinary work good, until we (hould
fee the after-lives of the fubjeds of it, and whether
they perfevered or not in the goodnefs they profef-
T 2

276 CONCLUSION OF

fed, muft acknowledge, if they deal fairly and can
didly, that thefe perfons were hopefully converted:
feeing that they continued to walk like fuch, from
the fuppofed time of their converfion, unto the end
of their trial for eternity. And is it not reasonable,
and a part of that charity which thinketh no evil, and
hopeth all things^ to hope that thefe who have con
tinued fo many years blamelefs and harmlefs, as the
children of God without rebuke, in the midft of a
perverfe and crooked nation, among whom they
ihine as lights, (hall continue fo unto the end?

For this reafon, I required the following Atteila-
tion of the kirk-feffion, only to the perfeverance of
thefe perfons, who had been blamelefs in their lives,
according to the meafure of good chriftians; leaving
out thofe, who had fallen into grofs fins, although
they had given good evidences of their repentance;
as alfo, thofe who had fome things which fome one
or other of the feffion complained of, and wanted to
have them admoniihed for, even where thefe things,
if true, were not fufficient grounds to doubt of their
converfion. Yea, it was faid in the fefiion, by fome
members, and not contradicted by others, that there
were feverals omitted in the lift of perfons propofed
to the feflion, as hopeful as thofe who were inferred,
and who are from time to time admitted to the Lord's
table; and who would have been admitted, if the
holy fupper had been difpenfed in the congregation
at this time; though indeed, after warnings arid ad
monitions, fuitable to the verity and importance of
the complaints made. But, 1 chufe rather to leflen
the number of the perfons attefted, to cut off occa-
fion of cavilling and obje-ction from thofe, who defire
v and wait for it.

I (hall now fubjoin an extract from the fcfiion
minutes of the Alteration referred to.

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 277

Manfc of Kilfythy fllarch igtb, 1751.

'"F'HE Seflion being met for prayer, according to a
•*• former appointment; the minirter read unto
them the names of above an hundred perfons, who
were the moft of them brought under NOTOUR
SPIRITUAL CONCERN, in the years 1742, and 1743;
and of whom he had good ground to entertain good
hopes.

The under-fubfcribing members of the fefiion,
elders and deacons, hereby teitify and declare, That
all thofe of them,, who are now alive, have been, from
year to year, admitted by the kirk-feflion to the Lord's
table, fince their rirft admiflion, either in thefe fore-
mentioned years, or fince; and, in as far as is known
to the faid members, they have had their convcrfation
fuch as becometh the gofpel; as alfo, that four or
live of the faid lift, who are now removed by death,
behaved until their faid removal, as became good
chriftians. The above teflimony, written by Ebene-
zer Paterfon, fellion-clerk, is fubicribed day and date
forefaid, by, ftc fubfcribitur,

r John Lapjlie.

L-I » ) Alexander Patrick.

J Henry Ure.
L James Miller.
And John Ranking t Deacon.

March 24/£, 1751.

r|"1HE which day, the feflion being met, the perfons
names being read before the members prefent,
that were read in the meeting of the feflion, upon
T3

278 CONCLUSION OF

the i pth of this current; and the faid abfent
hers did now fubfcribe the forefaid teftimony, viz.
Jtc fubfcribitut'y

C Robert Graham.

Elder s> 2 Andrew Provan.

(^ Henry Marjhall.

C David Auchinvoll.

£ Walter Kirkivood.

T-X C VSilliam and David Shaivs.

jjeacons* > cy T> i •

£ james Rank me.

^ Jamas Zuitt.
£ Mark Scott.

I now proceed to infert Letters I have received,
teflifying the perfcverance of confulerable numbers
of thefe awakened, and judged to be converted, in
other parifhes, in the years we write of.

Letter from the Rev. Mr. John Warden, minifter of
the gofpel at Perth, to me, dated Perth, March
26th, 1718.

Rev. and very dear Sir,

<c TN anfwer to yours, defiring me to inform you of
•*• what I know, as to the perfeverance of thofe
perfons, who were the fubje£ts of that fpiritual con
cern, which appeared fo remarkably in the years
1742 and 1743. I might refer you to what I wrote
you of the 1 6th of December 1 743. The particulars
of that, I can, with great freedom and folemnity re-
attcft: but, if you would have me more exprefs; I
do hereby atteft, That of perfons in the parifh of
Camp fie, whole concern was known to me; there
was not above four perfons, of whom, at my leaving
that place, .1 could conclude, that they were fallen
from their profefiion. There were^ others, of whom

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 279

I knew little; particularly, as I had very few oppor
tunities of converting with them; but, whofe practice,
as far as I could obferve, was unblameable. - And,
with great pleafure, I yet think on many of them, cf
whom I could not but eiftertain the highdl opinion,
and the greateft hopes. A folid and lively fenfe of
divine things; feems to fill them with love to God,
humility, felf-deniednefs, meeknefs and charity : and
a jealoufy of themfelves, and their own attainments,
feems to animate them with a peculiar earneftnefs in
every religious exercife. In a word, their devotion
is exemplary; ami remarkably produces the fruits of
religion in a regular and induftrious discharge of re
lative and focial duties. I hope, God will llrengthtri
what he has wrought for them, and their iello\v-
chriftians in Kilfyth, and the neighbourhood. That
God may make us yet fee more of his grace and
power attending the miniftration of the gofpel, is the
fincere prayer of,

Reverend and very dear S/r,
Tour rncjl affectionate Son
and Servant in our Lord,

JOHN WARDEN:'

Letter to me from the Rev. Mr. John Erfkine, jun.
of Carnock, mini.-ter of the gofpel at Kirkintilloch;
dated Kirkintilloch, April 25th, 1748.

Rev. and dear Brother,

""IT7HEN I had the pleafure, about a fortnight
ago, of feeing you here; you afked my fen-
timents in writing, as to the extraordinary religious
T 4

i8o CONCLUSION OF

concern in this parim, in the years 1742, and 1743.
I now comply with your requeit ; and allow you to
make any ufe you think fit of what follows.

*' The Rev. Mr. James Burnfide, was at that time
minifter here. I never had the happiriefs of hearing
him preach; but from his general character at Edin
burgh, as well as here, I may venture to fay, no man
had lefs of a turn to Enthufiafm. 'I believe, many
who entertain prejudices againft the late revival, and
\vhofe teftimony in this cafe none will fufpect, can
abundantly attelt this. None ever charged him with
endeavouring in his pulpit performances, to work up
people to a mechanical devotion, by addrefling the paf-
Jiotif, without informing the judgment. Nor had he
any friendship for out-cries, bodily agitations, and a
noify religion. He ufed the utmoft pains to difcou-
rage every thing of that kind. Perhaps, in fome in-
ilances, his caution carried him too far; and led him
to oppofe things, which, though no evidences of a
laving change; were in themfelves good and com
mendable. In fuch a fituation, the temptation could
be but fmall, to feign convictions, or to affect out
ward manifeftations of religious concern. I have
not learned one inftance here, in which there was
the lead reafon to fufpect, fuch bafe hypocrify: but,
have been informed, that many did their utmoft to
reftrain their concern from discovering itfelf publicly ;
but found it too overpowering to conceal.

" While Mr. Burnfide endeavoured calmly and
judicioudy, to inculcate the important doctrines and
duties of religion, the truths delivered fell with weight
on the corifciences of the hearers. By a moderate
computation, above a hundred in this congregatior
became deeply concerned about their eternal intereil
and engaged in a ferious inquiry, What they JJiouU
do to be javed.' Of this, I think there is all the evi
dence the nature of the cafe can admit. Thefe con.
victions were not raifed in them, while attending th<

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 281

•miniftrations of Mr. Whitefield, or any ftranger; but
while hearing their own minifter, and thefe in his
immediate neighbourhood. I know of but two ex
ceptions, vis. a perfon, who, if I remember right,
dated her converfion from a fermon preached by the
Rev. Mr. Ogilvie at Aberdeen; and another, who,
by hearing Mr. Whitefield, was firft. convinced of
the danger of a felf-righteous fpirit.

" If we are to examine religious appearances, by
the marks contained, i John, chap. iv. I think I mult
conclude, that there was then a glorious work of the
Spirit in this place. The perfeverance of thofe then
awakened, does not feem neceflary to juilify fuch a
conclufion. For the Spirit may really ftrive with
men, without working a faving change upon them.
And if that be the cafe, no wonder, that thefe who
quench his motions, return 'with the dog to the vomit,
and •with the few that was wafted, to her •wallowing in
the mire.

" But I have little need of this obfervation in the
prefent cafe. Drunkennefs, uncleannefs, evil-fpeak-
ing, litigioufnefs, and an awful difregard of every
thing ferious, do indeed lamentably prevail here: but
then, it is not among the fubje£ls of thefe religious
impreffions, but among thofe who flood it out un
concerned in that remarkable day of grace; and who
were fome of them mockers and oppofers of the work
of God. Indeed, eight or nine, who were once
greatly concerned about religion, though they have
not fallen into grofs out-breakings, feem to have re
turned to former carelefsnefs and (lupidity: and, as
many more, though ftili concerned about falvation,
are, I am afraid, feeking it in a wrong way, and
building on a fandy foundation. But, is it not mat
ter of wonder, that no more fuch inftances have
appeared? and that fo great a proportion of the
awakened, mould not only hold on their way, but wax
Jiro tiger and Jlronger.

232 CONCLUSION OF

" I do not, however, pretend to aiiert, that all who
feem to be perfevering in religion, arc indeed real
converts. Probably, there may be fcoli/Jj virgins,
mixed with the 'wife. Man can judge only by the
outward appearance, it is God that knoweth the
heart. Tares may fo nearly refeinhle the -wheat, that
it may be impoflible to know the one from the other,
till the Lord of the harveft make the diilin£Uon. But
this is no reafon of entertaining harfli fentiments of
particular perfons, whole experience feem fcriptural,
and their walk blamelefs; though it is a very ftrong
reafon for infilling often on thefe refuges of lies,
which prove fatal to multitudes of profeft chriflians.

" It is not, fure, the intereft of the PRINCE of
DARKNESS, to c'ondu£t men to the /*#£/, that their
deeds may be reproved thereby* — What then (hall I con
clude; when perfons educated in the groflfeft igno
rance, incapable of reading a chapter in their Bibles,
who fcarce ever bowed a knee to God; who went
to church only to fee, or be feen, without lending
the lead attention to the preacher; whofe only hap-
pinefs, was the luft of the flelh, the luft of the eye,
or the pride of life; and who made no fcruple of the
hidden works of darknefs or difhonefty; having no
dread of rai after account: what fhall I conclude,
when many fuch are pricked to the heart, and cry,
Men and brethren, what fiall ive do; when they apply
their hearts to wifdom, and lift up their voice for
underftanding, feeking it as filver, fearching for it
more than for hid treafures; when they feem to dif-
cern fuch a beauty and excellency in the way of fal-
vation through Chrift, as convinces them, fo glorious
a fehemc could have none but God for its author;
and determines them to venture upon JESUS, as able
and willing to fave to the uttermoft; when as new
born babes > they deftre the Jincere milk of the word, that
they may grow thereby; and for that end, apply theni-
felves with diligence and fuccefs to karn thefc things,

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 283

which their parents had neglected to teach them in
their younger years, when their knowledge of the
doctrines and duties of religion feems daily increaf-
ing; when their converfation is fuch, that enemies
to religion, have no handle to traduce them, fave for
their zeal in the matters of their God; and when
their zeal does not run out on trifles, or things of
lefier moment in religion, but for the advancement
of the kingdom of grace in their own hearts, and
in the world in general? Shall I not fay, this is the
Lord's doing) and 'wondrous in our eyes? Is it poffible
for any chriftians, to have due opportunities for ob-
ferving fuch things, and yet not to rejoice? And yet
this, and more than this, I might fay with juflice of
many in this congregation, particularly in the South
ern parts of it; which, before were remarkable to a
proverb, for ignorance and profanity. The children
of thefe, who fcarce can tell there is a Redeemer,
have advanced fo in knowledge and holinefs, in the
fpace of thefe five years, as may put thofe to the
blulh, who have had the advantage of a mod pious
education; and are chriftians of an old (landing.

I know nothing of any here having made the lead
pretentious to vifions, dreams, 'fupernatural revela
tions, &c. And I know not above four or five, whofe
faith feems founded upon imagination. — One error
indeed, feverals feem to entertain, though I <}o not
think it occafioned by the late religious concern, or
by the doclrine preached here, and in the neighbour
hood, viz. That perfons have no warrant to truft in
Chrift for falvation; or at leaft, to conclude them-
felves already in a juilified ftate, till fome text of
fcripture be impreffedl on their minds, declaring, that
their fins are forgiven. This has had three bad ef
fects: fome have thought it was vain for them to
attempt to believe, till they heard this inward voice
of the Spirit. Others, who have really clofed with
the Saviour, have continued doubtful about their

284 CONCLUSION ot

intereft in Ghrift, for want of fuch imprefiions. And,
•which is moft dangerous of all, four who appear to
have had no fpiritual difcoveries of the ability and
willingnefs of Chrift to fave; and the free and full
offers of falvation through him to the chief of iin-
ners; have yet ralhly concluded from fuch impref-
fions, that their fins were forgiven. But I have rea-
ion to think, that other places have felt more the
pernicious effects of this notion, than the congrega
tions where the revival took place.

Rev. and dear Br other y

JOHN ERSKINE.

P. S. Being much in Edinburgh in the years i 742
and 1743, I had particular occafion to obferve, that
Mr. Whitcfield's fermons were honoured to excite in
the minds of many, ferious thoughtfulnefs about re
ligion ; and to turn the general drain of their conver-
fation, to fubjecls ufeful and improving. Rafhnefs
in communicating experiences, was the only diforder
prevailed among them. — But I'm afraid, the goodnefs
of many (who feemed at that time feeking the way
to Zion) has proved as a morning cloud and early deiv,
•which Joon p'o/fi'th aiuay. Though, bleffed be God,
others, and fome of them perfons of character and
<diftin£tion, give ground to hope better things of
themj even things that accompany falvation.

In another Letter, dated, Kirkintilloch, 22d of Fe
bruary, 1751. the faid Rev. Mr. John Erfkine
writes to me as follows.

Rev. dear Brother,

fentiments of the religious concern in this
place, are the fame, as when I wrote you
April 1748. If I underfland any thing of the Bible,

KILSYTH NARRATLVE. 285

it obliges me to judge charitably of every profeft chri-
ftian, who underftands the fundamental doctrines of
chriftianity; and whofe converfation is as becometh
the gofpel; I mean,- whofe behaviour is pious and
devout, fober and temperate, humble and patient,
juft and honeft, msek, charitable and forgiving.
Such has been the behaviour of mod of the fubjects
of the late religious concern in this place. The joy
which fome of them have expreil in the immediate
view of death and eternity; the patience and refig-
nation others of them have difcovered under very
heavy afflictions; their meekneis under injuries and
reproaches; their contributing, to their power, yea,
and fome of them beyond it, for the relief of the af
flicted in propagation of the gofpel; and the candid
teachable difpofition I have obferved in the mod of
them, even when 1 have thought it my duty to op-
pofe fome of their favourite opinions or practices,
are things which argue th.:m animated bv another
fpirit, than moit among; whom they live. If any have
difcovered, that thefe things are confiftent with de-
lufion, I am fure, they have not learned it, from
Paul's account of the fruits of the Spirit, Gal. v. 22.
or James's defcription of the wifdom that is from a-
bove, James iii. 17. If rheir religion was confined to
the church or clofet, and did not difcover itfeif by a
regard to ftational and relative duties, the fevered
reflections thrown upon them by fome who fpeak
evil of the things which they know not, would be ex-
cufable. But thefe cenfures flow from a difpofition
which all cenfure in others, but moftzre too guilty
themfelves : I mean a readinefs rather to believe evil
reports without evidence, than favourable reports
however well-attefted: I am perfuaded however that
a thorough acquaintance with thefe people, would
effectually remove the prejudices of fair and honeffc
minds. I wiih by all means you would not defer pu-

286 C.ONCLUS ION OF

bliming the conclufion of your Narrative. Perhaps
it's better to do it with fewer and more imperfect at-
teftations, than to wait much longer." / am.

Rev. and dear Brother,

Tours, bV.
JOHN ERSKINE.

Letter to me from the Rev. Mr. William Halley, mi-
nifter of the gofpel at Muthil, dated Muthil, Fe
bruary 26th, 1751.

Rev. dear Brother,

" V O U R's of the 2oth I received upon the 25th
-*• inftant, and in anfwer thereunto, The reflec
tion upon, and remembrance of, the glorious goings
of our God and King in his iVaicluary in this place,
in the years 1 742 and 1 743, gives me ftill much plea-
fure, and cannot but beget a longing to fee fuch days
of the Son of man again. But God is a fovereign
difpefer of his grace, both as to perfons, times and
places. The ivind bfaweth 'where it lijleth. However,
I am fully perfuaded that the gracious fruits of that
glorious work will abide with many in this congre
gation, to eternal ages. As 1 never expected the con
tinuance of the extraordinary awakenings that were
in thefe years, fo as little did I expect that all that
were awakened mould arrive at a real converfion. I
doubt not but when the Spirit of the Lord is in fome
extraordinary way concurring with gofpel ordinances
for the converfion of the elecl:, but others may feel
of his common operations, which may evanifh as a

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 287

morning cloud. About fix of thefe perfons that were
the fubjecls of that glorious work (I have all reafoa
to believe) are gone to partake of the reft remaining
for the people of God. As they had a gofpel-walk,
and exercifed unto godlinefs in the ufual way, fo at
their death gave a notable teftimony to the truth and
reality of religion, and experimental godlinefs. Some
of them who had been long in the dark about their
(late, at evening with them it was light, doubts and
fears difpelled, and an abundant entrance miniflred
unto them, to the heavenly kingdorn of our Lord.
There are a great many in this and fome neighbour
ing pariflies, yet in the land of the living, who were
the fubjecls of that work, to whom it has been a
SAVING fo far as men can judge. If we are to judge
the tree by its fruits. Their walk being (as to human
obfervation) fuch as becometh the gofpel, nothing
(fo far as I have been informed) appearing about
them, inconGftent with a gracious (late. There arc
indeed both with them and chriftians of a longer
(landing, great complaints of much deadnefs, with
drawing of the Spirit, and fufpending of his influ
ences, from public ordinances, private and fecret
duties. Which I am informed, is a general calamity
over the whole national church at this day, and no
wonder that it be fo, all things conGdered." / am,

Rev, and dear Brother,

9

your afffciionate Brother
and Servant in our Lvrd.

WILLIAM BALLET.

'288 CONCLUSION OF

Letter to me from the Rev. Mr. James Baine, mini-
fler of the gofpel at Killern, dated Killern, April
1 8th, 1751.

Rev. and dear Sir,

" T Cannot but reflect upon it with forrow, that dur-
A ing the late revival, the fubjefts of religious con
cern in this place were but few; there being fcarcely
eight perfons upon whom it was then viiible: but it
will give you pleafure to know, and you may rely on
it; that of thefe there are three or four who continue
to give moil fatisfying evidence of their being affec
tionate difciples of the Redeemer; and particularly
fome of them are among the mod eminent private
chriilians, I was ever acquainted with, being remark
ably poor in fpirit, and humble in their walk with
God, frequently blefled with high meafures of fenfible
communion with him, and fervent in love to the
whole of human kind, even their enemies. What
pity that fome of our dear brethren in the miniftry
and others who have no accefs to fee this grace of
God, or by fome unlucky means difbelieve it, fhould
be deprived of a caufe of joy which makes glad the
inhabitants of heaven itfelf ? with my bed wiflies to
yourfelf and family. I am.

Rev. dear Sir>

nffeclknately your's,

JAMES BAINE."

Ifhallherefubjoin an extract from one of the paper 3
of the Rev. Mr. John Gillies, one of the miniiters of
the gofpel at Glafgow, direfted to the inhabitants of

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 289

the South parifh, and the hearers in the College-kirk,
dated Saturday, February i6th, 1751. No. I. pag. 1 1.

As an exprefs atteftation to the perfeverance of
many of the fubjecls of the revival 1742, and which
Siu perfon have prefumed to contradict.

For, after he hath inferted an account of the revi
val in Holland, he adds. * You fee, my dear friends,

* this work has been fo remarkable, as to raife the
attention of many in that country, where providence
has fent it, and to produce feveral writings both
for, and againfl it. We need not think it (trange,
that it ihould meet with oppofition, though there
were no other reafon but men's liableneis to mif-
informations and mittakes. But I know, many of
you, to whom I now write, will have no heiitation.
to pray for its progrefs, from the accounts you have
got of its nature, and of its being the fame in kind
with the religious concern that appeared in this
corner, at Cambuflang, &c. in the year — 42. Many
of you, from what you faw of that concern, and
fome of you from what you felt, were convinced,
that it was the work of the Spirit of God. And
bleifcd be his name, I am now perfonally acquainted
with feverals of you, who were fubjecls of it, and
who continue to the glory of free grace, to bring
forth the fruits of a fober, righteous, and godly
converfation.'

' I know there are fome melancholy inftances of

* bickfliding; our Lord has plainly taught us to ex-

* peel; fuch things. 13 at that the revival which was

* at Cambuflang, and other places in this country in

* 1742, has come to nothing y has not been Jolloivsd •with

* any good fruit in peoples lives; (as I underftand fome
' in Holland, who are not as yet favourable to the

* work there, are in danger to imagine) you and I
' both know this to be otherwife. And I think it
c my duty to declare fo much to his glory, who, I

* am perfuaded, was the author of that work.'

U

290 CONCLUSION OF

A Letter to me, figned by twenty-five members of
Seffion in Glafgow.

Glafgow ^ March 26th, 175
Reverend Sir,

under fabfcribers, members of the kirk-
feffions of Glafgow, underftanding that ye
are collecting proper informations, anent the reputed
fubje&s of the late revival of religion in anno 1742,
and about that time; in anfwer to an enquiry, Whe
ther all of them, or the generality of them, have
proven backfliders, as it would appear is alledged by
fome at diftant places? We judging it our duty, to
embrace this opportunity, do atteft, from our per-
fonai knowledge of feveral of thefe perfons, and from
credible information from perfons of undoubted cha-
radlers, who know many of them, that the faid un
favourable allegation and accufation are not fa£ts; but
that to this prefcnt time, goodly numbers of them,
both in town and country, who were looked upon to
have obtained a gracious out-gate under their awaken
ings and convictions, and were admitted to the or
dinance of the Lord's fupper; give the fame kind of
evidence of their perfeverance, that founds a judg
ment of charity in others cafes. That whereas, an
eftimate was made in anno 1743, of our additional
communicants; and was publifiied in your Monthly
Hiftory for December in that year, being No. II.
whereby it is noticed, That the increafe of the num
ber of tables, when the Lord's fupper was given in
O£tober 1743, was about eighteen tables, each three
tables, almoft in all the churches, containing about,
or near, two hundred communicants, which was, in
all, about twelve hundred; we reckon, that that com-

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 291

putation was very moderate; and think it requisite to
obferve, that, preceeding the time of this revival, for
a courfe of years, for ordinary there was, at mod,
only about fifty-four tables of communicants, at giv
ing of the Lord's fupper in this place, containing a-
bout three thoufand fix hundred communicants: and,
that fince that, to this time, there have been little or
no decreafe of thefe numbers, amounting, in all, to
four thoufand eight hundred perfons: and, that the
number of backfliders, fince that time, fo far as we
know, or have been able to learn, is comparatively
fmall: that feverals of thofe perfons, who were the
fubjecls of the late revival as above, and have fince
died, gave comfortable evidences of their perfeverance
to the end. Had it been needful and expedient, we
could have been more particular, both as to the num
bers and names of thofe we write of: that preceed
ing this reviving period, as religion feemed to be at
a low ebb, and like to degenerate in its life and power,
to mere form: the benefits of this revival and fpring-
tide of divine influences, were not confined (imply
unto thofe above noticed, (aid to be the fubjetls of
that blefled work, who indeed fhared deeply in the
convincing and regenerating, yea, and comforting
operations of the ever blefled and Holy Spirit; but,
alfo, great numbers, who, in the judgment of cha
rity, might be termed God's own people, (many of
whom of long (landing) and who attended at thefe
places, where that blefled work was, did (hare deeply
in thefe uncommon and extraordinary bleflings and
ihowers of the divine influences, to their great joy,
confirmation, and upbuilding: fo that, it is with
much pleafure, they do reflect upon, and fpeak of
that ever- memorable period: and we may add, that
:; very uncommon liberty, life and ftrength, was be
llowed upon numbers of the minifters, who were
employed at thefe places, (feme of whom attended
• -m very diftant corners) and that they were helped .

U 2

2#a CONCLUSION OF

to fpeak, in evidence and demonftration of the Spirit,
and of power, We fhall conclude, with noticing,
that we have reafon to bewail the mi (improvement
by ourfelves and others, of fuch bleiTed days of the
Son of man; and we defire to join you and others,
in fupplicating him, with whom the refidue of the
Spirit is, for a more plentiful effufion than ever, of
the Holy Spirit from on high, upon this, and all the
reformed churches; fo that their branches may yet
fpread: and that they may revive as the corn, grow
as the vine, and caft forth their roots like Lebanon
Wilhing you all fuccefs and welfare, We are> fcsV."

A Letter from the Rev. Mr. M'Laurin, one of the
mmiflers of Glafgow.

y May %th% 1751.
Re v. dear Broiler ,

you are publiOiing Atteftations of the
perfeverance of goodly numbers of the fub-
jefts of the revivals in 1742, and about that time:
however much we here came fhort, at that period,
of other places near us: yet, as that period did and
f till does appear to me the mod extraordinary I ever
favv, as to evidences of the fuccefs of the gofpel: and,
as I am almoft the only minifter of this town that
was in that Ration here, during the whole of that
period; and have had all along the evidence which
things of this kind admit of, and which is fuftained
in other cafes, of the perfeverance of goodly numbers
of tliefe people: 1 judge it incumbent on me, on thefe
accounts, to join with others, in atteding what is fo
fit to be remembered and recorded.

If facts that have the important character of public
notoriety, are on that account, attended with diftin-

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 293

•guifhed moral evidence ; that character appears plainly-
applicable to the fa£l relating to the increafe of pcr-
fevering communicants, fo well attelled by twenty-
five members of feflions of this city, in a letter figned
by them, and directed to you. It is proper to obferve,
that though it were only fuppofed, that one fourth
part of the increafe mentioned in that eftimate, were
inhabitants; it mil ft far furpafs any thing of that
kind known here thefe twenty-eight years, that I
have been a miniiler in this place; or, fo f'ar as I can
learn, in the memory of a.ny now living in it: though
it is ftill to be much regreted, that there are not many
more communicants, 1 mean worthy ones, in fo po
pulous a place: that after fo uncommon an increafe
of communicants, as in the eftimate referred to, had
there been fo numerous backflidings, as fome afper-
fions mud imply, a proportional increafe of fufpen-
fions from the facrament, muft be prefumed to have
.cnfued; which is not the cafe: that continued ad-
mifiions, are really continued atteftations of the per-
-feverance now inquired into; that the atteftations
implied in fuch admifiions, and thefe contained in
the above-mentioned paper, have the concurring
characters, which, in other cafes, render ttftimony
valid, viz. That the witnefles are fuflicient as to their
character, their number, and their means of knowing
what they teftify: that among real backiliders, there
are, through divine mercy, inft2nces of returning
backfliders: That fome, who at firil were much
fufpecled to be deceivers, have, for a tracl: of time,
given to thofe who know them beft, ftrong proofs of
their uprigmnefs: that perfons, whofe conduct has
occafionecl reproach, to the revivals, are not always
found, upon inquiry, to be perfons, \vhofe profeflion
of religion began at that period: thnt the favourable
things above-mentioned, are far from being faid in
the way of mere charitable conjeclure: that initead
^ that, they ar^ the confequences of furlx c^i'l.-iice,
TI 7 '

CONCLUSION OF &c.

as arifes partly from extenfive perfonal acquaintance
with thefe perfons, partly from occafionai inquiries
about them from time to time, partly from more la
borious fcrutinies, fet on foot privately, both former
ly, and of late, among perfons attentive to fuch things.
And laftly, that if any who poflibly know only back-
iliders, can be fuppofed to claim a right of judging
harihly of thofe, whom they own they do not know,
by thofe whom they do know; merely, becaufe the
religious profeflion of both began about the fame time
or place: it inuft be eafy for the unprejudiced to ob-
ferve, what principles fuch'reafoning mud be built
on, what confequences it mud infer, and what affi
nity it has to fome peoples way of judging of all pro-
feflbrs of religion in general, at whatever time their
profeflion began.

Reverend dear Brother,
I anty Yours y &c.

JOHN M'LAURIN."

THE

ATTESTATION

OF THE

REV. MR. MCCULLOCH,

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AY CAMBUSLANG:

Relating to the FRUITS and EFFECTS of the
Extraordinary Work at that Place, in i 742.

In a LETTER to the Rev. Mr. ROBE.

Rev. and dear

Hearing that you are very foon, as a clofe to your
Narrative, to publifli fome AtteJIations to the fruits
of the revival of religion in this country, in the year
1742; at the defire of fome minifters, I drew up,
and herewith fend you my Attejlationy relating to the
rffeSls of the extraordinary work here in 1742, which
you may publifli along with your own Attejlation,
and thefe of others.

TY7"HEN the God of all grace is pleafed in infinite
* * mercy, to fend a revival of religion to a church
or any particular corner in it; among other artifices
whereby Satan and his inftruments endeavour to ob-
ftruct its progrefs, a very ufual and fuccefsful ore,
is to raife prejudices againft it in peoples minds, by
fuggefting and alledging, that though the like awaken
ings and promifing like appearances, (or as opprfers
U 4

296 CONCLUSION OF

t»fe to fpeak, religious Jlirs, and commotions} formerly
obtained, in as high or even a higher degree, elfe-
where; yet there was no good followed, but a great
deal of evil.

Thus, as I am credibly informed, it is at the time
of the prefent revival of religion, in feveral places of
the United Provinces, as particularly, at Nieukirk,
Rheid, Aaalten, Groningen, &c. while the friends
of that work there take notice how much it refembles
the work at Carnbuilang, in 1742, the oppofers rea
dily grant there is a refemblance; but then they add,
that the work at Cambuflang, in 42, never produced
any valuable effect, that the fubjects of that work are
•worfe than before, that it was a flrifmatical <work> &c.
In order therefore to fet this matter in a clear light,
and that I might be able to give a brief but juft ac
count of a work that happened in a parifh whereof I
have the pafloral infpection and charge, and which
I cannot but look upon to have been a glorious work
of God's grace j I thought it my duty to make a par
ticular enquiry, concerning the behaviour of the
known fubjeftsot the work at Cambuflang in — 42, that
is, thofe perfons, not only living in the parifli of
Cambuflang, but who came from many other places,
near or more remote, and who upon reforting to
Cambuflang, in 1742, are known to have there fallen
under awakenings, convictions, and a deep concern
about eternal falvation, for the firft time, or at leaft,
the firft time that their convictions and concern
feemed to prove effectual, and to come to a gracious
iffue.

I do not here propofe to fpeak (if it be not a few
words by the by (of thofe who reforted hither in — 42,
and who were true chriflians before that. Of thefe
there were many hundreds, I doubt not but I may fay
thoufands, from places near and far off, who then
flocked hither, and joined in hearing of the word,
and great numbers of them, upon producing fufficient

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 297

teflimonials, were admitted to partake of trie facra-
rnent of the Lord's iupper; and hereoy the number
of communicants, which here uletl to be but about
400 or 500, before 42, came to DC greatly incrcaled
that and following years: io that at the fecond fa era-
mem, the number of communicants in 42, was rec
koned 3000; in43, about 2000 j in 44, about 1500;
in 45, about 1300; in 46, about 1200; &c. and all
along to this preient year 51, the number of com
municants here, has greatly exceeded what ufed to
be be fore 42.

The unweariednefs of the Lord's people in religi
ous exercifes, at thefe times, especially at the facra-
rnent occafions in 42, 43 and 44, was wonderful.
What eager attention to the word hearing, as upon
the ilretch and for eternity! What an awful, feriour.
folemn air appeared in the manner of their worfhip!
What vehement workingsvoi joy, and forrow, ando-
ther padions appearing in their looks! What engaged
attendance on God in his ordinances! hearing three
fermons on each of thele three days, Thurfdays, Sa
turdays and Mondays; double the number on the
communion Sabbath, befides partaking of the facra-
ineiit, joining in public prayers and praifes, fpend-
ing si moil the whole of Saturday and Sabbath nights,
in praifes and prayers with others, or apart by thcm-
felves.

And their attainments were arjfwerable to their
exercifes; thus at lead it was with many of them,
according to the account they gave to me, or to o-
thers, from whom 1 had it, and whom I could en
tirely credit. Many attained to the full afTurance of-
faith; had a fenfe of God's love to them, and the ex-
ercife of ardent love to him, and after believing iu
Chrift, were fealed with the holy Spirit of promife.
Some eminently pious miniilers, who afliited here,
teftifled, That they had never feen fo much of hea
ven on earth. A very aged arid worthy minifter at

CONCLUSION OF

going away from this, cried out at the flair-head in
the manfe, New, Lord, lettefl ihou thy fervant depart
in peace , for mine eyes have fetn thy falvation: others
of them after going home, writing, That they would
not for a world have been abfent from Cambuflang;
or miffed what of God they enjoyed there.

But patting from fpeaking further of thefe who
were true chriftiaus, before their coming here in 42;
I proceed to fpeak a little of thefe hearers who in the
parable of the fower and the feed, are compared to
the high-way-fide-ground, the ftony-ground, and the
thorny-ground, and then of thefe made good-ground,
where the word took root, and profpered.

I. There were thefe who may be compared to the
high-way-ftde-grcund, who hear the word, and under-
ftand it not, through their own fault; becaufe they
take no heed to the word arid take no hold of it, nor
come with any defign to get good; bwt commonly for
the falhion's fake, to fee and to be feen, and mind
not what is faid; but what comes in at the one ear
goes out at the ether, and makes noimpreflion; and
the devil that wicked one, comes and catcheth away
that which was fown, and makes an eafy prey of
fuch carelefs trifling hearers. And fuch, no doubt,
made a part of the vail multitudes that affembled here
in 42, though it mud be owned, there was general-*
ly a more clofe engaged attention to the word, by
what one could judge from outward appearance, than
what is ordinary.

II. There were a fort of hearers of the word here
in 42, who might be -called, The Jlony-ground hear-
*rs, who were much affected with the word while
they were hearing it, or for a fhort time, and yet
received no faving benefit by it. The motions of foul
they had anfwerable to what they heard, were but a
mere flafh, like Ezekiel's hearts, to whom he was
a lovely fong, and Ifaiah's hearer?, that feemed to
delight to know God's ways, or Herod who heard

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 299

John Baptift gladly, and others who rejoiced in his
light: and yet all thefe came to no good iilue. And
thus many here in 42, received the word with glad-
ncfs, and yet came to nothing, by and by they were
offended.

III. There werefome here in 42, who were much
affected in hearing the word, and other acts of wor-
ihip, and appeared to be fuch as in the parable, are
called the thorny-ground hearers : thefe held out longer
than thejlony-grcund hearers^ and yet at length came
to no better iffue than they. Thefe feemed for a
good while to have a mighty concern about religious
matters, but having never been born again, by the
incorruptible feed of the word; the great command
ing oveifway ing principle of the love of God above
all other objects, having never been put into their
fouls; and the heart having never been crucified to
the world by u virtue and power flowing into it from
the death and crofs pf.Chrift, eyed by faith: the
thorns of worldly cares and lufts, murmuring and
unthankfulnefs, and inordinate fancies of what tlrey
would be in the world, came at length to fink them
gradually into worldlinefs and fcnluality; and after
they had for a time efcap^d the pollutions of the world,
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Je-
fus Chrift, they appear now to be entangled therein
and overcome, and the latter end is like to be worfe
with them than the beginning.

It muft be owned, that there is a confiderable
number, (though what number I cannot determine)
of thefe three feveral forts of hearers already men
tioned, that have greatly backilidden fince 42, and
are ftill going on in their defection and apoflacy, and
enlarging the breach between God and them, and do «
not feem to be once thinking or refolving on a peni
tent return to God and their duty: but blefled be his
name, there are fome few of thefe (though alas! but
very few, for what I know) who feem to be greatly

3o» CONCLUSION OF

humbled for their revoltings in heart, and outbreak-
ings in life, and whofe fouls are echoing back, to the
Lord's call to backfliders to return, faying, Behold,
we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God.j

Before I proceed to fpeak of the fourth fort of
hearers, compared to the gocfd ground; I would offer
a few remarks as to the three forts already defcribed,
from one or other of which the backfliders came and
how they came to be fo.

(i.) As to the firft fort of hearers, compared to
the kigh-ivay-Jtde-grouttd) thefe may be divided into
three clafies, i. There was no doubt a confiderable
number, of thoughtlefs carelefs perfons, who came
here for fafhion's fake, without any care to have their
hearts prepared for receiving the feed of the word.,
or attending to it ferioufly when they came, or to
have that feed covered by after-meditation and pray
er: and as to thefe, it could not be expefted, that
they fhould continue in that good which they never
had, though they have fallen from that good they
once feemed to have. 2. There were fome that were
grofs counterfeits^ who a little after the awakening
broke out here in 42, crowded in among the really
ai/lreffidy and obferving and imitating their manner,
pretended to be alfo in fpiritual diftrefs, when there
was no fuch thing. But thefe were detected to be
mere pretenders j either by their own confefiion foon
after, or were plainly enough difcerneci to be fo by
others : and thefe being early difcovered and checked

(efpecially with the affiftance of

at Glafgovv;) the number of thefe counterfeits^ for
what I know, was never any way confiderable, and
In a fhort time they difappeared, for what we could
obferve or hear. There were alfo numbers of idle
boys in Glafgow, apprentices, arid others, who pre
tending or feeming to be under fome concern about
their fouls, came often out to Cambuflang, as they
pretended, to hear and join in prayer in the fields to-

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 301

gether: but thefc appearances with them generally
rame to nothing, and they brought much reproach
on the war! here, by fo often leaving their mailers
work, ami itrolling idly through the fields. 3. There
were thefe who came here in 42, with a defigri to find
matter of diverftony or cavil, and to mock fucli as were
in fpiritual diftrefs. The bands of fuch mockers,
were, no doubt, generally made ftronger, by their
fo coming, and fo behaving when they came: and
yet fome of thefe were made happy monuments of
victorious grace, and of fovereign preventing mercy
themfelves: a remarkable inftance of which I had
lately fent me in a letter, from an aged arid experi
enced chriftian of great integrity, whom I can fully
credit, efpecially in teilifying what he cannot but
certainly know: part of which letter, 1 fhnll here fub-
join, which I do the rather, becaufe It ferves to con
fute, what fome oppofers have aliened, that there
are no inilances of any grofsly vicious fmners, re
formed or converted at Cambuilang in 42: glory to
God, there is a number of other inftances of this

fort can be given.

' I have to fay, for my own part, (fays that letter-
writer) that I am able to go to death uith it, That
the Spirit of God was fo powerfully at work in Cam-
buflang, that not only fmners who knew nothing of
God before, were reached both by coivvicHoa and
converfion, but even faints themfelves were made to-
attain to that which they had been ftrangers to in the
matters of religion. I am able, if time would allow,
to give a moft fatisfying account, of not a few, bod*
men and women, who 1 hope will blefs God to alt-
eternity for that happy time: particularly, there were
among others, two yoang men, living not far from
me, who came over to you, in 42, on purpofe to
mock the work : and as they had formerly been hor
rid curfers and fwearers, the one fwore to the other,
he would go fee the fatting at Casibuflau^* alking his

361 CONCLUSION OF

comrade if he would go with him to that place? The
other fware he would go too, but that they fliould not
make him fa/!, For that he would run for it. And
upon their going there together, they were both
catcht the fame day, and for a quarter of a year af
ter, they continued under very deep convi&ions, and
have ever fince kept fellowfhip-meetings, weekly:
and I have been fometimes with them, and heard
them both pray and converfe in chriftian experience,
to my great fatisfaclion.'

As to the contents of this letter, I only add, i.
That the writer of it, a little after writing it, fent
me a very particular fatisfying account of a confider-
able number of the fubje&s of the work here in 42,
known to him, and living near him, as to their
blamelelefs walk, from that time to this. 2. And as
to thefe two youths, it is well known here, that in-
itead of being able to run away, if either found him^
ielf in hazard of being affected, as they propofed ;
they fell both under awakenings together, or very
nearly fo, and were glad to get into a ftable hard by,
and to get to their prayers there, on their knees, a-
mong the horfes. and 3. As to what thefe youths
called the falling at Cambuflang, it was a way of
fpeaking among mockers at that time, occafioned by
iheir feeing fomc fall down in time of fermon.

(2.) As to the fecond and third fort of hearers,
compared to the ftony and thorny ground, the great-
eft number of thefe that afterwards proved remark
able backfliders, were, no doubt, of thefe forts of
hearers; and the greatest number of thefe that made
the greateft noife, were alfo cf the fame.

But more particularly, 1 remark here,

i. There were here in 42, many indances of per-

fons, who in time of fermons, fell under various

bodily agiiariqns, and commotions, as crying-out-

a'oud, tremblings, faintings, or fwoonings, falling

concerning which bodily feizures.

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 303
I think we way fafcly affirm, That one cannot cer
tainly conclude merely from thefe ftizures, that he
himfelf or another, is under the influences of the Ho
ly Spirit, either in convincing, comforting, or fanc-
tifying the foul: becauie it is poifible, thefe fcr/ures
may' proceed from the mere power of imagination,
or fome fudden fright or bodily diforder: nor yet
ihould one fufpect himfclf or another, to be a ilran-
ger to the convincing, comforting, or fanctifying
influences of the Holy vSpirit, merely becaufe of his
being unacquainted with thefe bodily feizures-, becaufe
fome are brought under a fenfe of a loft and peddl
ing condition, by nature, and by actual tranfgref-
iions, with fewer terrors, and lefs violence and di-
ftrefs than others; and are happily brought home to
Chrift, in a more mild, gradual and gentle manner,
are allured by the difplays of the love and loveiinefs
of Chrift, and fvveetly drawn to him, with cords of
love, and bands of a man.

2. Such is the ftrict and near union of foul and
body, that when any thing much affects the one, the
other is confequently affected alfo in proportion.
Thus it is in many outward occurrences in life:
when a remarkab!/ forrowful or joyful event, isfud-
denly made known to perfons equally concerned in it
(as the fudden news brought to a family, that a be
loved fon of that family, abroad, is dead, or fuppofe
tidings brought afterwards that he is alive, father and
mother, brothers and fitters, all would he affected,
but) they would be differently affected, and would
fhew themfelves outwardly to be fo, according to
their different tempers of mind, and conftitutions of
body. . And why may it not be rationally expected,
that the unfpeakably more awful and concerning
tidings, brought to men's ears in hearing of the word,
fhoulcl deeply affect their minds j and that thefe in
ward affections, mould difcover themfelves outward
ly alfo, according to ptifons different tempers 31- :.

3o4 CONCLUSION OF

constitutions: efpecially while the threatenings of
the law, and promifts of the gofpel, are powerfully
applied to particular hearers by the Holy Spirit, as
certainly and undeniably belonging to them.

3. By all that I can obferve or hear, there are
more of thefe that were under deep concern here in
42, that appear (till to perfevere in a good way, and
in a gofpel-becoming practice, that never cried' out
aloud in time of public wormip ; or that were never
obfervably under thefe bodily agitations above men
tioned; than of thofe that were under fuch outward
commotions, and that made the greateft noife. There
are uidetdfome of both forts, whofe exercifes feem
to have come to a gracious iflue; but many more of
the former, than of the latter fort.

4. Some under a kindly fenfe of fin, as a difho-
nour done to an infinitely holy and glorious God;
others under the terrors of the Lord that fell upon
their conferences, and fears of perifhing for ever,
trembled and fwoon'd, and fell down as dead, or
cried out aloud-, but where there were only terrors
and fears of wrath, and no kindly fenfe of the evil
of fin; when thefe terrors came to abate and wear
off, perfons returned to their former fins and carnal
f>curity, and their awakenings left them as bad as
rhey were before : by their quenching the Spirit, and
(baking offtheir convictions, without improving them
to feek after and apply to Chriii the remedy, they
contracted and fell under a greater degree of hardnefs
and blindnefs than formerly.

5. There were alfo feverals here in 42, who after
they had been for fome fhort time under much di-
ftrefs arid terror, in fears of wrslh, while hearing
fermons, or in other duties, have been all at once
filled with tranfporting joys, and fome of them cried
out aloud, in the congregation, in fome thort expref-
fion of their joys: and upon enquiry afterward into
the ground of thefe joys, it appeared, that in fome,

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 305

they took rife from a difplay or manifelhtion inward
ly to the foul, in a heart-overcoming-way, anfwer-
able to the outward difplays of the glory of ChrHl in
Me gofpel, or of his love, or the fruits of it, or the
perfon's intereft in thefe, made evident: and thefe fo
far as I know, {till perfevere: but in others, thofe
joys, appeared to proceed from the perfons hearing
or reading fome promife of fcripture, and ftrongly
apprehending, that it belonged to them; whereupon
they feerned to be filled all at once with tranfporting
joys; and thefe have, many of them at leait, fallen
away: and from feveral inftances of this kind, we
have known here, we cannot but conclude, That
great and ftrong terrors, by themfdves, or when fol
lowed with fudden and extatic joys, are no certain
arguments of a gracious change, nor of a perfon's
being under faving influence.

6. When the heart has not been humbled and bro
ken for fin, and from it ; and when the foul has not
been firft united to the Lord Jefus, and made one
fpirit with him, who is the fountain of life; where
the perfon has not firil accepted of Chrift in his gra
cious gofpel-offers, and clofed with him in all his re
deeming offices; outgates from diftreffing terrors, by
fudden tranfporting joys, though appearing to be
conveyed, by means of fome fcripture-promifes, are
always fufpicious and delufory, and at beft, the joy
of the ftony-ground-hearers, who receive the word
with joy, and anon are offended. And of this fort, we
had feveral inftances in i 742, fome of them alfo ap
pearing under a blooming profeffion in 1 743, reckon
ing that the bitternefs of eternal death and all dan
ger of it was paft: but the dominion of pride, world-
linefs, arid other corruptions remaining unbroken in
them; and finding the difficulties and difagrccable-
nefs to their unrenewed nature, of a holy, humble,
felf-denying life, they were offended and difpleafed

3o6 CONCLUSION OF

with that kind of life, and fo fell away to former fen-
fuality,

7. As to out-cries, in the time of public worihip,
it is bed to avoid extremes. On the one hand ; hear
ers would not indulge themfelves in out-cries in pu
blic, when they are under no neceflity to cry, by
overpowering fears or joys, and when they could re
frain from crying, if they were willing; for, by cry
ing in that cafe, they do in a culpable and diforderly
manner, mar the attention of others, and their own,
to the word of God's grace : and minijhrs would not
fet themfelves induftrioufly to excite fuch out-cries
among the hearers; but rather to fet the terrors of
the law, and the unfearchable riches of Chrift, and
the grace of the gofpel before them, leaving it to
God, to take his own way with them, who can, if he
pleafe, order the out-cries of fome to the awakening
of others; of which there have been fome inftances
here. On the other hand, fuch hearers as can at
tend with calmnefs and compofure, would not too
harlhly cenfure thofc as mad and outragious, who at
any time are neceilitated to cry out in the congrega
tion, by over-bearing joys, or fears; nor would mi-
niilers too feverely rebuke, or charge every fuch per-
fon to hold their peace; becaufe, though there may
be hypocritical cries, yet, the real griefs or joys of
fome ferious or gracious fouls may be fuch, as they
cannot contain them; and while they endeavour to
ilifile, and give no vent to them, nature may receive
a dangerous fliock: fome fuch hearers in this place
in 1742, endeavouring with all their might, to reftrain
themfeves from crying, fell a bleeding at mouth or nofe,
or both, and continued to do fo for a considerable
time, before the bleeding could be got ftopt ; to the
great weakening of the perfon's own ftrength, and
to the difturbing of others about them, a great deal
more than by the out-cries of others.

8. Mean time, we fee the mine, the devil has been

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 307

Jpringingj for undermining true religion ami ferious
godlinefs, and blowing up the honour due to it, into
the air. How deep his plot! how cunning his ilra-
tagems for that purpofe! When he law there \vas n
number here, under deep convictions, and a kimj-
ly-like concern about their falvation, that was like to
iffue well, about the end of i 741, and beginning of
1742, in order to bring difgrace on that work of the
Spirit of God, he quickly pitches on fevenl poor a-
bandoned wretches, his ilaves of whom he had got
fail hold, and was not like to lofe; and teaches fome
of them, to mimic fuch as were in foul-diftrels;
caufes others of them to cry out publicly, and to fall
down as dead for fome time, representing various
objects to their fancies, in the air, when they were
awake, or when afleep, and fuggefting various things
to their minds at the fame time, urging them after
wards to tell what they faw or heard, as viiions,
dreams, or revelations from heaven; exciting them
to go and join in meetings for prayer; and to holil
on in this way under a high profeilion, fome for
weeks, fome for months, and others for years: and
then at length to pufli them into uncleannefs,drunk-
ennefs, lying, cheating, and all abominations, even
to the throwing off (with fome) the very profdlion
of religion ; which it is to be wHhed they had never
put on. Could a more dangerous mine be fprung,
could a more effectual way be taken to. make men turn
Atheiftsand Deifts, and to defpife ferious gocilineis,
and all appearances of it, as if all had been mere
(ham, grimace and pretence ? And thus it \vas likr
to have been, had not God prefervsd a remnant of
thofe that were then under awakenings, and enable;!
them by the holinefs of their after-lives, to give evi
dence of the gracious change then wrought on their
hearts. And this leads to fpeak

IV. Of the fourth fort of hearers, in the parabL-,
X 2

3o8' CONCLUSION OP

compared to the good ground. I do not here fpeak
of thofe who were as good ground before 1742, but of
thefo whofe hearts were then made good: who in
he a ring the word, were then made to receive it, fo as
in their after-life, to bring forth the fruits of righ-
teoufnefs, though in different degrees, in fome thir
ty, in others fixty, in others a hundred-fold : i temper
tf mind) and courfe of life, agreeable to the gofpel:
this is fruit that will abound to the account of thofe
with whom it is found. And, glory to God, fetting
afide all thefe that appeared under awakenings here
in i 742, who have fince remarkably backflidden, whe
ther perfifting in their backfliding, or returning from
it, there is a confiderable number of the then awak
ened, that appear to bring forth fucli fruits. I do
not talk of them at random, nor fpeak of their num
ber in a loofe, general and con fu fed way; but have
now before me, at the writing of this, April 27,
1751. a lift of about four hundred perfons, awaken
ed here at Cambuflang, in 1742, who from that time,
to the time of their death, or to this, that is, for
thefe nine years pad, have been all enabled to behave,
in a good meafure, as becometh the gofpel ; by any
thing I could ever fee, and by the beft information I
could gat concerning them by word or writing, from
others of eftahlifhed characters for religion; who
know them and their manner of life all along.

But that what I fay in this matter, may not be
mifunderftood, I remark,

i. Negatively,

i. I do not hereby pretend to fay, that they are
free of all faults and follies, as if nothing at all amifs
could be juftly charged on any of them; but would
only fay, that after much enquiry made, for what I
know, they have been helped, fince the time of their
awakening to their death, or to this time, to carry in
a good meafure, fuitable to their chriftian prbfembn,

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 309

proper charitable allowances and abatements, being
made for involuntary infirmities and imprudencies,
common to them with other chriftians in this im
perfect ftate : and that they have not been fuller til
to fall into any thing grofsor openly offenfive in thvrir
life.

2. I do not pretend to fay, That thij lift before
me is complete^ or contains the whole number uf the
awakened here in 1742, that perfevere. It is u
hoped, many of thefe quite unknown to me, may be
as good chriitians, as any of thofe that are in it. It
is but very lately, that I got particular accounts of
a confiderable number of them, that are choice prac
tical chriftians, of whom I knew nothing before.
Oppofers at no great diftance, hearing of the fall-i
and mifcarriages of fome of the awakened, immedi
ately raifed a great clamour and noife, as if all were
come to nothing; and that noife, it feems, has reach
ed Holland, and ether diftant places: but then
ground to fufpect, that the more narrow the enqui
ries into this work, and the effects of it are, it will
ftill appear in a more favourable and advantageous
light.

3. It is not meant, That all the regularly behaving
fubjecls of that v/ork, are yet alive to anfwer for

' themfelves. It may be hoped in chanty, that many
cf them are gone to heaven ; but thefe only of the now
deceafed fubjecls of this v/ork, are reckoned in this
number, who from the time of their awakening
here in 1742, to the time of their death ^ were ena
bled to perfevere in the ways of God, without falling
openly into any thing offenGve, or unfuitable to their
chriftian profeffion. And thefe are the mod u*
ceptionable of all others, as having by an edif.
life, given evidence of the gracious change wro..
on their hearts; and then finifhed their courfe, and
feverals, though not all of them, having finiilu-d r
X 3

3io CONCLUSION OF

v/ith joy, and died triumphantly, and in the full af-
furance of eternal life.

4. When I mention the work here in 1742, arid
fuch comfortable abiding effects of it; I would not
have that work, as producing any of thcfe bleft ef-
fecls, afcribed to any creature, out that the entire
glory of it (hould be given to God whofe work it was.
It is true, there were many minifters then came here,
from places near and more remote ; and fome of
them men of great eminency, who preached here at
my defire, and I ufed alfo to preach along with them
at their defire; and feveral of thefe miniiters, after
public vvorihip was over, alfo joined with me in ex
hortations to fouls appearing in fpiritual diilrefs,
who reforted to the manfe. But what could all thefe
avail without the divine power and blefling? who
ever plant or water, it is God that gives the in-
creafe: minifters are but inftruments in his hand:
no praife was due to the ranis-horns^ though Jericho's
walls fell down at their blaft: if God will vouchfafe,
that his Spirit (hall breathe through minifters, or by
his word in the mouth; it is God and not the means
rnuft have the praife. It is very fit and reasonable,
that he that builds the temple, mould bear the glory:
and Chrift is both the foundation and founder of the
church, and of every particular living temple in it,
and even all in all: and therefore let all the glory be
nfcribed to him.

5. When I fpeak of fo many perfevering fubje&s,
of the work here in 17 42; I do not pretend to deter
mine that all thefe are converted. A true believer
may, without extraordinary revelation, be infallibly
allured, that he himfelf is in a ftate of grace, and
(hall perfevere therein to falvation: and yet this is
not the attainment of every true believer neither, nor
perhaps of the greateft part of believers : but the like
affurance is not to be expected, in an ordinary way,

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 3u

with refpecl to the goodnefs of the ftate of others i
the white Jlone and neiv namj, Rev. ii. 17. is known
abfolutely to none but thefe that receive it: the gift
of difcerning fpirits, fo as to have an abfolute infal
lible knowledge of the goodnefs of another's ftate, is
quite miraculous; and whatever of this gift obtained
in the apoftolic and primitive times, for any man
now to pretend to it, feems to be an afluming of
what belongs to God alone; and to run into this
plan in church-matters, is to turn all into the wilddt
diforder and confufion. But,

2. And pcfitively :

Whatever juftly determines us to entertain favou
rable fentiments of others being true chriflians, and
in a gracious ft ate; will be found to agree to thefe
perfons I fpeak of; though no doubt, with a diveifi-
ty, as among an equal number of other chiiitians.
The holinefs of fome chrillians, mines fo clearly in
their lives, as fuffices to found a moral certainty, or
very high degree of probability, and even to exclude
all reafonable ground of doubt, concerning the good
nefs of their ftate ; while others afford ground but
for a lower degree of probability, yet enough to found
a judgment of charity on, that they are in a graci
ous ftate; fome of both thefe forts are, no doubt, to
be found among the perfons in view, of whom I now
fpeak.

Now there are thefe two things, efpecially, upon
which we found our charitable thoughts of others a3
true chriflians, namely, a chriflian profeflion, joined
with an anfwerable converfation: leaving the certain
and final judging of hearts and ftates to God, who
only can judge them with infallible certainty ; we arc
bound in charity to think men are good n.
long as their profeflion of faith and lives, are a-
greeable to the word of God, the only rule of faith
and life.

X 4

3i2 CONCLUSION ot-

Some indeed further require, that perfons who
would have a place in their charity, ihould give fome
account of their experiences of the grace of God:
and this is what a great number, perhaps above a
fourth part of the perfevering fubje&shere in 1742,
have done : they gave me very particular accounts
of God's dealings with their fouls, in their firft a-
wakenings and outgates, with their following foul-
exercifes and experiences, diftrefles, deliverances,
and comforts, in 1742, 1743* and 1744, and fome
of them alfo continued thefe accounts to 1748. And
I fet down very many of thefe from their mouths, al
ways in their own fenfe, and very much alfo in their
own words: arid many of thefe accounts, have ap
peared to competent judges to whom they have been
(hewn, and who have perufed them with care, to be
very rational and fcriptural, and worthy to fee the
light; which perhaps may be done hereafter.

But pafling thefe things at the time, and confin
ing ourfelves to the two things before-mentioned,
that uiually and juftly determine us to look upon o-
thers as chriftians, where they meet together, a chri-
ftian profefTion with an anfwerable practice: and
both concur here.

All the pevfevering fubje&s of the work here in
17.12, agree in prof effing their faith in Chrift the
Mediator, by whofe mediation alone we can come
to God the Father as our God and Father in him,
through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit:
they all profefs to hope for falvation according to the
gofpel-plan, by the imputed rigHteoufne-fs of Chrift,
entitling to eternal life, and all bleffings; and the
falsifying influences of the Spirit of Chrift, dif-
pcfing for eternal life, and all holy fervices and en
joyments here and hereafter.

But then, as our Saviour allows us to judge of the
tree by its fruits, and true faith muft be (hewed by

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 313

'good works, or holy obedience in the life, thcfc t
are alfo manifeft in the lives of the perfevering iub-
jects I fpeak of: I am not free, at prefent, to publiQi
any of their names, or thefe of the atteiters, nor is
it at all proper or needful to do ib; but ail the above
number, are feverally attefted, either by min
elders, or private chriftians of citabliiiied characters,
who have known them, and their manner of life,
from 1742, and all thefe Alterations in fumbear, not
only, That luch perfons they mention, were aw
ed at Cambuilang in 1742, or were under conv:
and remarkable concern there at that time-, but that
they have all along from that to their death, or to
this time, behaved well, and as became their chriilian
profeflion, charitable allowances being made fur in
voluntary weaknefies and infirmities, as to other
chriftians, in this imperfect date, as is laid before.

But befide thefe genefals, 1 fhall here fubjoin a few
particulars, partly from my own knowledge and ob-
fervation, partly by credible information from (
relating to their temper and practice.

By the practice of juftice and charity, relative du
ties, public-fpiritednefs, humility, meeknefs, patience,
and a clofe and diligent attendance on gofpel-ordi-
nances, heavenly-mindednefs, watchfulnefs againft
all fin, efpecially thefe fins that ufed formerly eafiiy
to befet them, &c. they adorn the doctrine of God
our Saviour, glorify their heavenly Father, and excite
others to do fo on their account.

Thefe of them that were curfers and fwcarcrj, have
laid afide that language of hell, and have k-arncd
much of the language of heaven, and to fpe,<
holy awe of God, and things divine.

Such of them as ufed to be often out in taverns,
drinking and playing at cards, &c. till very Jate, or
morning-hours rather, for thefe nine years paft, ihun
all occafions of that kind, and keep at home at night,

CONCLUS ION OF

{pending the night in chriftian conference, things
profitable for their families, and in fecret and family-
devotion.

The formerly drunken or tipling fot, that ufed to
lie a-bed till eight or nine in the morning, till he
flept out lad night's drunkennefs, for thefe nine
years, gets up at three or four in the morning, and
continues at reading his Bible and other good books,
fecret prayer and meditation, &c. till feven or eight
o'clock in the morning, that he calls his houfehold
together for family-devotion: and does the like in
the evening and at night.

Some wives who before 1 742 were at variance with
their hufbands, have fince that time got on the orna
ment of a meek and quiet fpirit, and live in much
love and peace with them.

Others, when the hufband's paflions break out a-
gainfl them in boifterous and ftormy language, run
to another room to their knees, aflcing of God for-
givenefs and a better temper to the hufband, and
patience and meeknefs to herfelf, and after fome
time, returns from her knees, with the law of kind-
nefs in her lips to the hufband, telling him, He is
the beft hufband (he could have got; for that he is
the occafion of her going oftner to her knees, than
probably fhe would have gone, if (he had got one
more loving and kind.

The formerly covetous and worldly-minded and
felfifh, have got a public fpirit, and zealous concern
for promoting the kingdom and glory of Chrift in
the converfion and falvation of fouls: and for this
end, are careful not only to live inoftenfively them-
felves, but ufefully to others, fo as all about them
may be the better for them: they join cheerfully to
their power, and fome even beyond it (fo that I have
fometimes feen it needful, to check fome of them for
too large quota's or offers) in collections for promot-

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 315

ing the interuft of religion, or fur the relief of thefe
ftraits, in places ur.ir hand or t ->iy

obferve the tunes fixed in liu" concert tor pra;.
and joining c.t futh rim--- -igs at a

throne of grace, for the f-r.i ceding and fuccefs of the
gofpei, and the out- pouring of tlic Spirit from
high on the camciub.

They ilock to tlie hearing of the word, in th
versa places where they refute, wit!
an*. ^ neio-L.,-n babi\, &

w may vr <••**> J.>tn-i>y. Such earnclt

fires, of a nurr.btr in , : . f-i'tcr the word,

couraged me in the beginning of the year 17
up a weekly ledture on Thurfdays, and to continue
it from that time to this, all the year round,
even in harveft too, only altering the time of it t
to he evening, to which the reapers come running
from the fields, where they had been toiling all day.
At other times of the year, fome fcrranta of then
own free motion and choice are known fomet.mei
have fit up aU night at their matter's work, that they
might have liberty to attend the weekly leQure next
dav, without giving their mailer caufe to complin.

They are careful to prepare for the facrament c.i
the Lord's fupper, ana frequent in partaking o
In Scotland, country paiiOies ufually have that 1
ment difpenfed but once a year, and fometimei
fo oft; but ever fince 1742, we have had it he e -
a year. Thefe hwe been indeed remaikable t me;
of communion with God: then f-ialy, they have
feen the goings of our God and our King i n the
fanftuary • they have been made to fit under

hanaueting-houfe, his banner over them «n,
And miefing alfo with like enterlahunents at com-
in other places, they refort to many

3i6 CONCLUSION OF

fuch folemmties in different parts, efpecially in the
feafon wherein they mod abound, as in June, July,
and Auguft.

To conclude, they abound much in prayer, both
in fmgie or fccret prayer ', each apart by himfelf, and
in foetal prayer jointly with others, not only private,
with the family they belong to, and more public and
folemn with the congregation; but in fellcivjhip meet-
ingr, or lefier focieties that ufe to meet weekly for
prayer, and praifes to God, and chriftian conference.
In 1731, when I came to this pariih, there were
three of thefe meetings in it. In 1 742, they increafed
to a dozen or more-, now they are decreafed to fix.
In every town or village almoft in this fide of the
country, where there is any competent number of
ferious lively chriftians, and where religion is in a
thriving way, there are of thefe focieties for prayer,
and the perfevering fubje&s of the work I fpeak of,
in pariihes where any fuch perfons are, always make
a part of thefe focieties. Tradesmen, who are mem
bers of them, and who work for fo much a day, al
low their employers to deduce fo much from their
days-wages, as anfwers to the time they happen to be
abfent at the meeting for prayer. Some of thefe fo
cieties, befides their ordinary fixt times for meeting,
which is ufually once a week in the evening; have
alfo their meetings for fading and prayer upon ex
traordinary occafions; as fudden tidings of remark
able lofles or dangers to any of their concerns ; or of
events whereby it appears that the interefl of religion
is in great danger. And fometimes the Lord gives
much of his gracious prefence and of a fpirit of prayer
to his people in thefe, though, alas ! not fo much as
in former times.

I now clofe with this fnort caution, If this paper
lhall fall into the hands of any concerned in the work
of which it treats, who {hall pervert any thing here

KILSYTH NARRATIVE. 317
laid, towards encouraging himfelf in pi'ulc cr carnal
fecurity, as fuppofmg that he is reckpned here anv
the perfcvering fubjeas of that work. To fuch 1 fay,
perhaps it is not as you imagine: but fuppofe it be
fo, What are you the better for that? What was
Tudas the better for being in the hit, and in fuch re
pute among the other apoRies? Men may approve
thee, and God condemn thee: and if thc
felf merely upon the approbation of others, this de-
lufion will ruin thee for ever. Be not high-mi n
but fear- thefe who have indeed been enabled to
perfevere, and may hope by grace dill to pcrfevere
in the ways of God, are the humble and lowly-, t
modeft and felf-denied; while the haughty and high
minded, the prefumptuous and felf-confident, have
been fuffered to fall, or may expeft that a dangeroi
fall is very near. .

Now to him that is able to keep us from faffiftg, and
to prefent us faultlefs before ike preface of hs ghfj vv*l
exceeding joy: to the only wife God cur Swr, oc gtoj
and majefty, dominion and power, both now and cvt

A Upon the whole, I think I may fay, The Lord
has done great things for us, whereof we are
To him a'lone be S glory and praife c ^whatever
good was got or done, in that remarkable work o
his grace. Amen. / am,

Reverend and dear Sir,
Tour afcaiwate Brother and Set".

WILLIAM M'CULLOCH.

CAMBUSLANG Manfe,?
April 30th, 1751. i

3i8 CONCLUSION OF

A T T E S T A T I O N

OF THE KIRK-SESSION OF CAMBUSLANG,

At Cambujlang Manfe> April 30^/6, 1 75 i.

"\T7E the under fubfcribing elders, members of the
** kirk-feflion of Cambuflang, having heard the
foregoing Atteftation read to us by our Pallor, and
having maturely confidered the fame, paragraph by
paragraph, do heartily join with him in faid Attefta
tion; and hereby make it our own, being perfuaded
that it contains a jufl and true account of the extra
ordinary work here in 1742, and the comfortable
abiding effects of it on many, probably more than
the four hundred mentioned in the foregoing At
teftation ; and particularly, as to about feventy of
that four hundred, who lived in this pariih in the
year 1742; and who were among the awakened here
that year, and from that time to this, or to the time
of their death, lived, (fo far as we know ourfelves,
or by credible information) in a blamelefs inofFenftve
way, and as becomes their chriftian profeflion.

And to what is above faid, we add the following
general obfervations.

t. The awakening in 1742, was fo far from being
a fchifmatical work, as it has been traduced by op-
pofers, That numbers who had gone into a courfe
of Reparation and divifion from their own minifters,
and from the communion of the Prefoyterian church,
eftablifhed by law in Scotland, returned to their own
pnftors, and to communion with the national church,
acknowledging God was in the mid ft of her of a
truth. And many who were at the very point of

KILSYTH NARRATIVE.

defertirg the communion of this church, an
rating hoin their own pallors, were kept back liom
fchifmatic courfes; and exprels a moil tender regard
to all true miniilers of Chnit, efpecially to thole who
were their fpiritual fathers in the Lord; and conti
nue in full communion with this national church to
this very day.

2. Though the moft of the fubjefts of the awaken
ing, whofe exercife contained a mixture of (trong
fancy and imagination, are relapfed to their former
fmful courfes: yet, there are feveral htitances of per-
fons, whofe exercifes were mixed with fanciful ap-
prehenfions; and which they gave out to be real re-
prefentations of objecls and vifions, are of the num
ber of thofe who are perfevering in a juftitiable chrii-
tian profeflion, and unblemifhed converfation.

3. The decreafe of the number of meetings for
prayer, from about a dozen or more in this pariih,
anno 1742, to the number of fix this prefent current
year, mentioned by our Paftor in his Atteitation,
pnge 3 16. was occafioned not only by the backfliding
of feverals, that at the beginning of the revival,
formed themfelves into thefe meetings: but alfo, by
the death of feverals of the members, the removal of
others from this parifh; and by marriages of others,
who were obliged to mind the affairs of their fami,
By all which, fome of thefe meetings were quite
broken up; and the remaining perfevtriixj merr.i
have adjoined themfelves to the fubiiding foe;
within this parifh, or to other focieties ibr prayer,
where providence hath now caft their lot.

4. The reafon why we declare there are probably
more than the four hundred perfevering fubjec
awakening, contained in our minifter's Atteftation,
is, That when the lift of the above fubjech came to
hand from other pariilies, there were no account fent
up from the AVdl country, where we know great

320

CONCLUSION OF, &c.

numbers of the fubje&s of the late work lived, and
do live; and we doubt not, numbers of thefe have
brought, and are bringing forth fruit with patience.

And now, upon the whole, we the under-fub-
fcribers, with the greateft freedom, after the moft
impartial inquiry and diligent care for information
sbout the premifes, being all the elders belonging to
the kirk-feflion of this parifti, fave one occasionally
abfent from this meeting, day and date aforefaid, do,
hereto fubfcribe our names.

Elders,

Alexander Dunc.an.
Archibald Fife.
Ingram More.
Claud Somers.
Bartholomew Somers.

FINIS.

BV Robe, James
3785 Narratives of the extra-

R6A3 ordinary work of the spirit o:

1790 God

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